Two Northamptonshire drop-in centres to close

Two drop-in centres for the homeless are to close in Northamptonshire two days before Christmas.

The county's YMCA has said centres in Northampton and Kettering will shut because of a funding crisis.

Chief executive Peter Storey said the drop-in centres were unfunded and were only kept open by the YMCA dipping into its own reserve funds.

"This has now become critical and we were in danger of failing as an organisation," he said.

"It is unfortunate they must close two days before Christmas but we have no choice."

He admitted the drop-in centres were severely needed and central management cuts had been made to save money, but the county's YMCA could no longer provide the funding.

"This is a hugely difficult time for charities with cuts in government and other funding.

"And we cannot see where future funding is going to come from," he said.