EASTLEIGH MP Chris Huhne has called for round-the-table talks to discuss a funding crisis which is threatening the future of the town's Carers Centre.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Hampshire County Council's adult services department is pulling the plug on funding for the centre, a lifeline for hundreds of carers.

The centre, which provides information and counselling services, is run by Eastleigh Community Services and carers fear they will have no one to turn to if it is lost.

Funding is due to run out at the end of next March, which would also mean redundancy for the centre's three staff.

The move has triggered a storm of protest from carers and care centre chiefs and now the Eastleigh MP has stepped in to the row.

He said: "I know what a fantastic job carers do and how hard they work, purely for love. They deserve to have all the support they need."

Chris has written to Adult Services asking it to justify its decision and to explain exactly how it will provide a service to an extra 600 people using existing resources.

Mr Huhne added: "This seems to be an ill-informed decision badly implemented.

"I call upon Adult Services to sit down with the carers of Eastleigh to find out what service they want and need, and to think again about how that can best be provided.

"It is insulting to suggest that carers will still have a decent service when money is being taken away and the staff who support them are losing their jobs."

In a previous statement the council said: "Support services for carers will continue in Eastleigh and Romsey.

"It is the way these services have been arranged that will change."