A Dorchester-based charity which helps people on the breadline is urging the better-off to think of others this Christmas.

Dorchester Poverty Action Group was set up by Dorchester Churches Together 15 years ago, to tackle poverty in the county town.

It can make grants of up to £150 on recommendation from care agencies to those in urgent need, but a growing demand for funds means it is running short of cash.

Chariman of the charity Margaret Barker said the shortfall in funding comes despite efforts during the summer to raise cash for the charity.

She said: "This appears to be a prosperous area but there are many people who really do need this sort of help.

"Sometimes a small unexpected financial crisis can be the last straw that means no presents for the children at Christmas and the last thing a worried family wants is for their children to be penalised."

Dr Barker urged people to think about whether or not they could go without something this Christmas.

"We should all think about what we really want this Christmas - could we manage without one of our expected presents? Do our children need quite so many new toys and games? Or would we really get more pleasure and satisfaction from knowing that we had helped to give a present to someone else in a financial crisis?"

She said grants have been paid to families who are facing financial crises through no fault of their own including someone who was self employed whose child was in hospital in Southampton and therefore unable to work and was forced to spend Christmas savings to make ends meet.

Margaret explains: "This sounds like an old-fashioned example, but it is real and recent and local they need just a little bit of financial help now.

"If you live in Dorchester or any of the DT2 area around it, could you make a small donation to help someone local who feels desperate in this run-up to Christmas? Just a few pounds from a lot of people will make all the difference to worried families."

Send donations - with cheques made payable to Dorchester Poverty Action Group - to Margaret Barker, 43 Bridport Road, Dorchester DT1 2NG, or telephone 01305 260959.

* FUNDRAISERS took to the floor and danced the night away to raise more than £500 for the Dorchester Poverty Action Group.

Supporters of Broadmayne Barn Dance Committee came together for the charity barn dance.

Their fancy footwork raised a total of £572.77 for the group.

Carol Milner of the committee said: "We are really delighted with the way evening went and the amount of money raised and would like to thank all who supported the event."