More than 150 Maldon residents have backed a petition to save a vital community resource.

The Maldon Resource Centre, based in the King’s Head Centre, in the High Street, is under threat after £5,000 worth of funding from Moat Housing is due to expire in March.

Volunteers at the centre, which provides advice and guidance for Moat Housing residents but also general help for those living in Maldon, fear the place will shut without extra funding.

They began a petition at the end of last year to show how well it is needed by residents, which has so far accumulated 156 signatures.

Office manager Pam Crewes, 76, said: “We have been trying to get extra funding but so far we haven’t had much luck.

“We were hoping to share the old custom house with someone but that seems to have fallen through.

“We are very important from the point of view of the residents who come in for help, especially with the benefit changes that are about to happen."

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