A CASH-strapped charity that supports some of Southampton's poorest people has been given a vital lifeline.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, SCRATCH is struggling with a £40,000 black hole in its accounts because of delays in receiving £500,000 of grants.

A mystery benefactor has now stepped in to offer a £10,000 interest-free loan to help tide them over after reading of their plight.

Its follows charity director The Rev Ian Johnson, team rector for Southampton city centre parish, pumping in £10,000 from church funds.

Charity bosses are now campaigning for organisations to sponsor the group, or offer interest-free loans, to secure its survival.

SCRATCH - Southampton City and Region Action to Combat Hardship - provides food, clothing, furniture and kitchen equipment to people with money problems as well as meals to the homeless.

Founder and chief executive Chris Davis said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have received this loan. It means we are halfway to covering the deficit. What we would love now is to get things like company sponsorship."

Mr Davis said the group's problems had been caused by red tape over grant money being released to them from central government and Europe.

He added they had contacted the funding bodies about the delays but was not confident money would be released any sooner.

The problem has come to a head for the charity because of large sums of money it has spent over the past few months for building improvements and overhauling its internal structure.

Mr Davis said: "In a year's time we will start to see the benefit of those changes and make savings."

For details on how to help the charity call 023 8077 3132.