A SERVICE which has found more than 5,000 volunteers for charities and businesses is at "crisis point" after failing to find the £75,000 it needs to remain open.

National Lottery fund-ing has run out at volunteer centres of Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Council for Vol-untary Services, which co-ordinates volunteers for 495 organisations.

The centres in Cannon Street, Accrington, and Swan Mews, Clitheroe, have been running for seven years.

Manager Dorothy Shears said each branch has to find its own funding and without the volunteers they provided many local groups would struggle to continue.

Centres in Accrington and Clitheroe employ two full-time and two part-time workers. Mrs Shears said three members of staff look set to lose their jobs after March 31 when funding runs out.

There is money to keep Mrs Shears in place running a limited service until August.

The CVS service, which also provides community development and healthy lifestyle projects, is not under threat from the funding crisis only the volunteer centres are affected.

Funds for Blackburn with Darwen CVS and Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS are secure for the next year.

Dorothy McGregor, founder of Accrington homelessness charity Maundy Relief, said: "They provide a lot of support and information and help our fundraising. They are invaluable to us and provide a fantastic service."