ON the day it gained a top national award, a South Wye voluntary group revealed it faces a fight to secure the funding needed to survive.

The South Wye News - a community newspaper - is one of two organisations in Herefordshire to be awarded the prestigious Queens Voluntary Award.

But Jenny Tucker, who heads the group, says it faces an uncertain future when funding from the Single Regeneration Budget stops next year.

The group, which produces the quarterly community newspaper distributed to 10,000 homes in the South Wye area, needs £25,000 a year to say in business.

"We are contacting local groups looking for support and we are slashing our advertising rates in a bid to secure the money we need," said Jenny.

"I am hopeful this award will give us the boost we need and energise more volunteers.

"It would be terrible if we had to shut down a year after winning this accolade."

South Wye News has produced 18 editions since it started and offers up to 16 pages of news, advice and information. It is distributed to every home in the area by a network of volunteers and paid paperboys and girls.

The Newton Farm Information Centre, which has also landed a Queens Award, faces a more certain future.

It handles more than 6,000 inquiries every year and claims to offer the only advice centre support of its type in the country.

Services include drug dependency and legal advice, as well as training. Its offices are also used by the Adoption Agency, Pensions Service, Citizens Advice Bureau, Age Concern, Help the Aged and the police.

There is also a Credit Union allowing local people to save and borrow money at low interest rates.

"We have 4,600 people living on the nearby estate and more than 20,000 in South Wye.

"Our reputation has gone far and wide and we have also helped people from as far away as Newcastle," said Richard Johnston, chairman of the group.

The Queen's Award recognises excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community.