THE amount of help offered to crime victims will be cut unless Victim Support can attract more volunteers in County Durham.

The warning came at the charity's annual meeting held at Durham County Hall.

Training and development manager, Gail Murphy, said that without an injection of additional volunteers the organisation's future levels of services may have to be curtailed.

"A great many people are left devastated by crime and we are the only organisation geared up to help," she said.

Last year the organisation's 130 volunteers assisted more than 16,000 victims and nearly 3,000 witnesses.

They provide services such as visiting victims in their homes, helping complete compensation and insurance claims, attending magistrates and crown court hearings and crime prevention.

No experience is required to become a volunteer as the organisation provideS training. For details call: 0191-383 9946.