A FOREST service which has helped thousands of pensioners find a voice is to close at the end of the month.

Funding has run out for the Forest of Dean advocacy service which has been in Lydney for nearly a decade.

Three advocates will lose their jobs after grants used to pay for the project dried up.

But Age Concern say OAPs will still be able to get help from the countywide advocacy service.

The Lydney service is run by Age Concern Forest of Dean and Comic Relief and the lottery contributed to the £40,000 a year running costs.

The grants have now run out and extensive efforts failed to find the money elsewhere.

Christina Snell, of Gloucestershire Age UK, said they would now speak up for Forest pensioners who need help.

She said: "We have been working with the Forest of Dean to make the transition as seamless as possible.

"The service may look a little different but we are in a position to pick it.

"People will not have to come to Gloucester because we do outreach work and home visits."

The charity says advocacy is helping people in any situation where they might need a voice. Assistance ranges from expert help with filling in forms to going into a care home.

Charity chiefs expect demand to increase over the coming years but will not get any more money for absorbing the Forest service into Gloucestershire.

Many believe this is bound to mean an inferior service to the current one in Lydney.

Age Concern Forest of Dean chief Alan Gore said: "Unfortunately the funding dried up and we had to make three staff redundant.

"Age UK will now deliver the service and we have been working with them to ensure an orderly transition.

"It's very difficult in the current climate but we still have a hot meals service operating out of Cinderford, a befriending service and more than 100 volunteers.

"We remain a local charity, for local people with local volunteers with a commitment to continue to provide services to older members of our community to the best of our ability and available resources."

Chairman Dr Daphne Pearson said: "It's not something we wish to happen but you cannot run an office or pay staff without any funding."

Anybody who wants to access the service can call 01452 422660.