CASH-starved Bolton Council will be asked to dig deep to help two pioneering schemes for the homeless. The Bolton Young People's Advice and Support Service, known as BYPASS, and the Bolton Bond Board are to lose cash support.

They are now appealing to the council to help them find £48,000 each so they can carry on.

Representatives from BYPASS lobbied the council's management and finance committee.

Last month, representatives from the Bolton Bond Board gave a presentation to housing committee councillors.

Three-year Department of the Environment funding is due to end in April and the directors of the board are threatening to wind it up unless funding is secured soon.

But Bolton Council is set to make cuts of £5.1 million and will struggle to find the cash. Cllr Brian Iddon, housing committee chairman, said: "These are both important schemes for young people and we want to help out. We do not have the money in our budget and will have to appeal for cash from the central council budget.

"But there are other demands for extra money, for schools or for the elderly. There are some very difficult decisions to be made."

A final decision will be made at the end of next month, but Daniel Armitt, drop-in support worker for BYPASS, said: "BYPASS is a very important organisation for the young people of this town and it is vital that we have this funding."

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