A BEFRIENDING service that has brought comfort to people in East Lancashire for seven years has been disbanded in a blow to lonely people in the area.

The Age UK Lancashire charity said it was forced into the decision through a lack of funds over several years.

Age UK Lancashire offers a range of services to help older people across Lancashire make more of their lives.

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It has offices in Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and the Ribble Valley and also runs shops in Clitheroe, Nelson and Oswaldtwistle.

The Age UK set-up in the Blackburn with Darwen area is a separate entity and is not affected by this decision.

Bosses at Age UK Lancashire said they are 'extremely disappointed” to have to close the scheme, which mattered hugely to those who were befriended by volunteers.

The project has seen kind-hearted individuals develop friendships with isolated individuals to help combat the blight of loneliness.

A spokesperson for Age UK Lancashire said: “It is with huge sadness that Age UK Lancashire has made the very difficult decision to close its befriending service in East Lancashire.

“Age UK Lancashire has delivered a befriending service in East Lancashire for just over seven years with no external funding to support the provision within this time.

“The current external funding climate has been declining over a number of years and all attempts to secure funding for this service have been unsuccessful.

“The pressures on the economic and financial environment of charities and other third sector organisations are being experienced across the country and it has proven more and more difficult to retain services where there is no funding to support them.”

The spokesperson added: “We are extremely disappointed that we have had to make this decision and our thanks go to all the dedicated volunteers that have supported so many older people over the years.”

Sharon Lucas, health and wellbeing manager at Age Uk Blackburn with Darwen, said the service for older people in the borough would continue, although she acknowledged the financial position was a challenge.

She said: “Funding is a challenge for all charities in the current climate. All local Age UK's are independent, autonomous charities and Age UK Blackburn with Darwen provides a befriending service, which will continue.”

Cllr Shaukat Hussain, a Blackburn with Darwen representative on the North West older people’s champions network, said he was sad to learn of the demise of the Age UK Lancashire service.

He said: “I’m very disappointed it is no longer happening in the rest of the east of the county but I’m glad it is continuing in Blackburn with Darwen. It is very important to have this link.”