A NINETY-EIGHT year old woman, a Labour councillor and a Conservative MP have spoken out about a Bromley charity’s "terrible struggle" for survival.

Tightened budgets mean volunteer care organisation Careplus, which has been going for 25 years, is living off dwindling reserves.

The charity’s treasurer said the situation has never been as bad as this and that if they do not find £9,000 they may only have a year left.

Alice Sprules is 98, has lived in the same house in Bromley for 65 years and has lived alone for the past 25.

She said: "I couldn’t manage without Careplus because all my friends and neighbours have moved away."

The former housewife, who received a medal for her long service to volunteering, said: "It’s lovely to have a chat because I like to know what’s going on in the outside world.

"It’s the little things that make people feel they can no longer cope and have to go into care."

She said the people at Careplus were having a "terrible struggle" to find funding.

Jane Gorey is a part-time volunteer co-ordinator at Careplus.

The mother-of-two became tearful when speaking about how she would feel if Careplus closed.

She said: "It would be awful. I’m getting upset just thinking about it.

"Alice wouldn’t be able to eat because she needs people to buy her food."

Treasurer, John Kingsmill, emphasised how the charity is exploring every available venue of funding to stay afloat.

He said: "We used to be core funded by the council until about five years ago and had two full-time members of staff and an office, but now there is just funding for two small projects of ours."

Council leader of the Labour opposition, Cllr John Getgood, said: "Labour councillors warned when the budget was first cut that this could be the end for such a vital service.  

"Sadly, the Tories do not recognise the value or need for organisations like Careplus."  

Bromley and Chislehurst MP Bob Neill added: "It has some of the most dedicated volunteers I have encountered during my time as an MP and they each play a vitally important role in our local area."

The council was unavailable for comment.