Comedy star Jo Brand has joined the fight to save a women's mental health service threatened with closure because of a funding crisis.

Threshold has provided low-cost counselling and community-based drop-in centres in Brighton and Hove for the past 12 years.

But it has been forced to introduce a skeleton service after its three-year National Lottery grant came to an end.

Ms Brand, who is patron of the group and a former psychiatric nurse herself, said: "Threshold reaches some of the most vulnerable women in the area.

"It helps prevent minor health problems escalating into serious issues, which would otherwise cost the Government huge amounts of money in psychiatric care as well as leaving scars in peoples' personal and family lives.

"If Threshold did have to close, it would be a disaster for local people."

Threshold director Wook Hamilton said other funding sources were being considered, such as the Government's New Deal scheme.

She said: "We have had to reduce services which is causing a lot of distress. It means some women are having to wait that bit longer for counselling."

The crisis was also having an impact on the work of drop-in centres with one in Coldean already having to close.

A user of Threshold's services, who wished to be known only as Ruth, said many women in the city would be worried about the funding crisis.

She said: "For many years, Threshold has been there when I have needed someone. I feel angry and vulnerable and unsure about where to go if it closes."

The organisation, which has Beacon status, sees more than 100 women a week and also runs a national information line and training scheme.

Ms Hamilton said people in Brighton and Hove could help by making a donation, joining the Friends of Threshold or even eating at Brighton's Terre a Terre restaurant, which has offered to donate a proportion of the price of every meal.

For further information about Threshold, contact 01273 626444.

Nigel Galloway nigel.galloway @theargus.co.uk