A CAMPAIGN to save a health and social centre has won the support of leading political figures.

Managers of the Pioneering Care Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, fear it will close if Durham County Council withdraws most of its financial support.

Th council - a major funder for the centre - could withdraw £50,000 of support and a further £39,000 from its Options Day Service for disabled adults.

The proposals are included in draft budget cuts for 2007-8 which is out to public consultation until tomorrow.

The Pioneering Care Partnership charity, which runs the centre, has mounted a petition calling for the council's continued support.

This week, Lord Foster of Bishop Auckland, formerly Derek Foster MP, said he would urge the county council to rethink the proposal.

The former Bishop Auckland MP, who chaired the partnership for four years and is now its patron, said: "It is a cause close to my heart, it does a super job and is one of the best voluntary organisations in the North East.

"I will be speaking to the council and leaving them in no doubt where I stand on the matter.

"I hope they will be able to think again and find a way to continuing to support the centre."

The centre's chief executive, Jane Hartley, said the organisation relied on core funding to run services and secure funding for specialist projects.

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

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman and Prime Minister Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency office have also expressed concern that the centre's future is in jeopardy.

They have asked to be kept informed of any developments.

Ms Hartley said: "I welcome any support for the centre and am very pleased that people at that level are showing their support."

Staff from the centre and volunteers will be collecting names on the petition in Newton Aycliffe town centre, from 9am to 11am today.