CHANCERY House day care centre in Bridport costs more than £3,000 a week to run and needs help to cover those costs.

West Dorset District Council chairman Gillian Summers visited the Thursday lunch club to see for herself what was on offer – and why the service is so essential.

Barbara Vousden, chairman of the trustees of Bridport Age Concern, and Roger Stoodley, who helps organise Thursday’s lunch club at the centre, told her what the centre does and why it is so vital to the town.

Coun Summers said she was surprised Chancery House received no funding from Age Concern.

She said: “It is fulfilling a very necessary role in between people supporting themselves and needing to go into a home.” She was impressed by the atmosphere and services provided by a huge band of around 40 volunteers.

Mr Stoodley said: “We have only recently extended our service to a Thursday and are trying to increase the use of our facilities.

“It costs in excess of £3000 per week to run the centre, covering all of the needs of older clients including the provision of a substantial meal on weekdays.

“We are always in need of additional funding, and hopefully Coun Summers’ visit will not only highlight our service provision, but awaken potential funders to our problems of finance.”

Mrs Vousdon said they had a contract with Dorset County Council to take referrals – but this accounted for only around £1,000 a week and the contract ends in August.