A PETITION signed by more than 2,000 people calling for a closure-threatened health and social centre to be saved was delivered to County Hall yesterday.

One of the three funding partners that established the Pioneering Care Centre (PCC), in Newton Aycliffe, in 1999, is considering pulling the plug on regular cash that keeps the facility open.

Durham County Council has proposed withdrawing £50,000 of support from the PCC, and a further £39,000 from its Options Day Service for disabled adults.

The suggestions are included in draft budget cuts for 2007-08, which were out to consultation until Thursday.

The Pioneering Care Partnership, the charity that runs the centre, fears if it loses the cash it will be forced to close.

The centre's chief executive Jane Hartley and charity chairwoman Carol Briggs delivered the 2,348-name petition to the authority's headquarters in Durham City.

Mrs Hartley said: "We are so grateful to those people who signed our petition.

"But it is just a fraction of the support we have had - lots more people have written letters directly to the council.

"Some of those I have seen have been extremely emotional, and really brought home to me just how valuable the service we provide is.

"Hopefully, the county council will see that now and find a way of continuing its financial support."

Every year, 123,000 vulnerable children and young adults, people with learning disabilities and older people use the centre and its facilities.

Deputy county treasurer Robert Cornall said: "In a bid to make the council's decision-making about next year's budget more transparent, we have been asking people to suggest where spending reductions should be made, where more money should be spent and how much council tax bills should be.

"What people say they do and don't want will help inform councillors' decision-making when they meet to map out the authority's spending plans for 2007-08.

"We're grateful for people having taken the time and effort to respond to our consultation.

"It has certainly been a useful exercise, and their views will certainly be taken into account as part of our budget-making process."