A WATERSIDE Heritage Centre is under threat of closure - before it has even reached its second birthday.

The centre, set up just under two years ago, is struggling to pay the bills.

Chairman Graham Parkes has launched an urgent campaign to ask parish councils in the area to help with more funding.

He said the charity had enough money to survive at least until the beginning of next year.

But volunteers are being forced to constantly fundraise instead of concentrating on turning the centre into a rich local history resource, he said.

Now the chairman plans to address Hythe and Dibden, Fawley and Marchwood parish councils, which already provide annual grants, to plead for a more regular income.

He said: "We've written to the parish councils asking if we can come and talk to them to persuade them to give us ongoing support.

"We've a distinct difficulty of meeting our annual costs. We've basically got a shortfall scenario after the end of this year."

Mr Parkes was keen to avoid giving the impression he was discontented with existing funding from parish councils.

But he added: "Next year if we can't get something sorted out it will be a major problem and we might have to close."

Visitors to the centre can deposit useful documents as well as inspect archives belonging to the group.

Mr Parkes estimated 500 people a year call or visit the centre. If it is forced to close the nearest local history resource will be the Hampshire Record Office in Winchester.

The first parish presentation will be to Marchwood councillors at 7.30pm tonight at Marchwood Village Hall.

A spokeswoman for Marchwood Parish Council said: "I think Waterside Heritage Centre is very important."