Stourbridge advice centre is given reprieve

A closure-threatened advice centre in Stourbridge has been given a stay of execution after securing funding into the new year.

But volunteers and staff at The What? Centre, in Coventry Street, say they face a race against time to attract more cash to keep it operating past January.

The support centre lost a £47,000 annual payment from Dudley Council after it ended its contract with the organisation following authority budget cuts.

Bosses revealed the centre had successfully applied for a series of grants to help funding in the next three months. Centre spokesman Rachael Edge says the organisation is applying for more funding and contracts in a bid to stave off closure.

"We were pleased to hear the news we'd been successful for the applications because at least it gives us some more time to find a long-term solution," she said.