A women's refuge is hoping a taste of cockney charm will help stave off a funding crisis.

The Women's Refuge Project in Brighton may have to cut jobs and services after losing Home Office funding for next year.

The charity, which helps women who are the victims of domestic abuse, hopes England's best-loved dish will be enough to tempt celebrities to raise vital funds.

It is hosting a champagne fish and chip supper as part of its new Collect A Cockle Appeal.

Star Wars Episode One actor Ralph Brown and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe are among the celebrities set to attend the event.

The stars will be entertained by music and prose with an East End theme. Brown will perform with his tribute band Brighton Beach Boys.

The supper will take place at Bardsley's Fish Restaurant in Baker Street, Brighton, and has been organised by the refuge's fund-raising arm, the Red Card Appeal.

Jeane Lepper, Mayor of Brighton and Hove, and representatives from Brighton and Hove Albion will also attend.

Acting director of refuge Jayne Morrell said: "We are in need of funds because we have been told we will definitely not be receiving the Home Office grant next year.

"We are looking into other forms of funding from various bodies but we are keener than ever for people to keep fund-raising.

"If we cannot find enough money, we may have to reduce the services we offer at the end of the year. It would be our core advice and advocacy service which would suffer and we want to avoid that at all costs.

"The fish and chip supper should be great fun and an ideal way to raise some of the money we need."

The charity received a grant from the Home Office of £110,383 this year, almost half the amount it was given in 2002. But the grant will dry up all together from January.

The project was set up in 1994 and offers assistance and support to about 2,500 victims of domestic abuse every year.

It provides a refuge, a telephone helpline, advice and drop-in sessions, group therapy, a children and young people's service, a crche, a mentoring service, parenting support and preventative education and training.

Supper tickets are still available at £20 each, including a fish and chip meal, champagne, oysters and cockles.

They can be obtained from Jane Binns on 01273 622828.