ELDERLY and vulnerable people in Craven could be severely hit by "short-sighted" Government cuts which will affect a charity helping rural communities.

Funding for Rural Action Yorkshire, which works to improve the quality of life for people in the Dales and the county, is under threat .

For several years its parent organisation the national Action for Communities in Rural England (ACRE) has been largely funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

But it has been told that there may be no cash for ACRE in the budget for the coming financial year, which would mean no support for the work of Rural Action Yorkshire.

Its chief officer Leah Swain said: "We offer important support, training, events and resources to rural communities in the Dales and throughout the county.

"To threaten this work, which has a very positive effect on the quality of life for people in rural environments, seems short-sighted in the extreme.

"We help with all sorts of things, from sourcing funding, attracting volunteers, running a community building or writing a business plan. There are almost 500 village halls in the area which we can help to run successfully with support and advice.

"Already our online petition to protest about the situation has been signed by more than 10,000 people. Rural communities need the support we give."

Across the country in the financial year which ended last April, an investment by Defra of £2.25m helped the ACRE network to lever in £12.5m from other sources. ACRE employed 900 staff, had a combined turnover of £31.2m and worked with 6,978 partners, 284 local authorities and reached 52, 783 grassroots organisations during that year.

A final decision on funding by ministers is expected to be made within the next week to 10 days.

Those wishing to support the Rural Action Yorkshire case should sign the online petition on the organisation's website, or write to the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, Nobel House, 17, Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.