A town's last day centre for elderly people and those with learning difficulties is threatened with closure due to funding cuts.

The Waltham Abbey Day Centre has provided outings, home cooked food and transport for a large number people in the area for the last 30 years.

Since its £25,000 government grant was cut however, money has been tight at the Crooked Mile centre.

Now a fundraising appeal has been launched in a bid to keep the service going.

Rose Avis, a co-ordinator, said: "The £25,000 got stopped when independent funding came in place.

"Keeping a charity in business means we do as much fundraising as we can, to cover the overheads and keep the service running.

"We are trying our upmost to keep everything going, but if we don't get any help we might have to close next year."

While the Waltham Abbey Day Centre is kept going by a dedicated team of volunteers and the occasional successful grant application, the services it offers are expensive and not provided anywhere else in the town.

Ms Avis added: "For a lot of our members it is the only socialising they get.

"For a lot of them it is an important part of their week.

"It also supports the family members as well, who get a care respite.

"There is nothing like us in the area."

To help keep the centre going, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/daycentre?utm_id=60&utm_term=2aRA3yMRK