MORE than 4,200 people have signed a petition calling on council chiefs to save Citizens Advice Darlington (CAD) by cancelling plans to ends its funding.

The petition was handed in to Darlington Borough Council on Wednesday after the authority revealed plans to end CAD's grant as part of widespread cost-cutting measures.

CAD bosses say the service will be forced to close within 12 months unless the council rethinks its proposal.

Neeraj Sharma, chief executive of CAD, said the service helped 10,000 people a year and Darlington would be an "advice desert" if the branch was forced to close.

"No other organisation provides the service that we do," he added.

"We offer a universal advice package, no matter how old you are or what your income is."

Mr Sharma said the service helped people claim £4 million in unpaid benefits last year, which not only helped the residents but also trickled down into the local economy.

He added: "We have been overwhelmed my the response to our campaign,

"We've had more than 4,200 signatures to the petition and some quite powerful comments on what not having a CAB in Darlington would mean to people."

Mr Sharma said it made economic sense to keep the service running.

"To give one example, from the £100,000 we received from the local authority last year we helped 600 people remain in their own homes and prevented them from presenting on the council's doorstep as homeless - to house those people because the CAB wasn't there it would have cost the authority somewhere in the region of £3 million."

Citizens Advice Darlington has helped residents of the borough since 1939.

Darlington Borough Council is having to make cuts of £12.5 million after its funding from central government was slashed.

Accepting the petition from CAD, Councillor Andy Scott, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and partnerships, said the council recognised the "great work and importance" of the service.

However, he added: “Due to government cuts in funding, significant challenges lie ahead for the council, which, unfortunately, will affect many organisations and service users.

“We are still in a consultation period, it ends on 31 May. The petition; along with other feedback and comments we have received, regarding the budget proposals, will be taken into consideration before any decisions are made."

For budget information and to have your say visit www.darlington.gov.uk/budget

Alternatively, email www.feedback.gov.uk or write to Feedback, Room 106, The Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington, DL1 5QT.