DESPERATE pleas are being made for a £900,000 fund to help the vulnerable to remain in place - with fears growing that it faces the chop.

Rival political parties at Worcester City Council have united to demand Government answers over the 'welfare assistance scheme'.

Back in 2013 Whitehall handed out millions of pounds to local authorities, to give out to those pleading for items like food vouchers, furniture, microwaves and beds.

But the two-year project is due to end next April and the Government has indicated that it is unlikely to stay the same.

To make matters worse, the scheme is being largely looked upon a failure in other parts of the country, with many councils struggling to give the discretionary funds away.

But south Worcestershire has bucked the trend, managing to spend all its £445,000 allocation last year, and this year's pot is also due to all be used up due to massive demand.

Worcester City Council agreed to manage the project last year for south of the county, handling applications for people in Malvern and Wychavon too.

The money was originally handed to County Hall, before the city council expressed an interest in running it.

It offers help with basic day-to-day living for those deemed to be in genuine crisis, and has helped more than 1,400 people so far across south Worcestershire.

Labour Councillor Roger Berry, speaking during a full council meeting, said: "The impact of this scheme coming to an end is likely to be significant, not just to the vulnerable but those organisations who help the vulnerable too.

"People are going to suffer."

Tory Councillor David Wilkinson, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: "If this funding stops we are not in a position to say 'we'll take it over step in with our own funding' - the activities will stop.

"It will clearly be beneficial if this fund continues."

Labour Councillor Paul Denham said it had worked "extremely well".

"Let's get that letter sent and show the Government Worcester and Worcestershire can run this scheme properly," he added.

After a unanimous vote on a motion during a full council meeting, a letter will now be sent to the Government calling for it to be extended.

Other councils in the UK have cited various reasons for not managing it as well, with some saying not enough people have applied, others citing a lack of publicity and a few saying they lack the staff to make it work.

There is a feeling, therefore, that Worcestershire could be punished through no fault of its own if the fund ends.

Rather than cash it works around vouchers, which are handed out for food, white goods like washing machines and fridge freezers, and even energy bills.

Prior to April 2013 crisis loans were issued via the Department for Work and Pensions.