Disability advice centre in Brighton says cuts are affecting its services

An advice centre for disabled people in Brighton, says it has had to scale back its services, after its funding was cut with three weeks notice.

Possability People helps thousands each year. They say many of their service users have had to challenge incorrect disability benefit decisions.

Staff assist 4,500 people, helping them to find foodbanks and to contest issues concerning their disability benefits.

Two years ago, the charity won a Queen's Award for the work it does with people living with disabilities in Brighton.

Staff at the centre, which has been running 30 years, say it's now facing an 85% cut in its funding.

Officials say it's now only able to advise its clients over the telephone when many require face-to-face help.

Possability People say they have been reduced to functioning as a limited telephone service for individuals, some of whom struggle to communicate.

Over 80% of the queries the advice centre receives are about benefits. Its users believe they are losing a "vital service".

Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), who part fund the service, told ITV Meridian the following:

"Across the NHS there are more and more people who need to use health services, and the funding available to pay for them cannot keep up with the increase in demand.

"This means we have to focus funding on supporting services which have been proven to have the most impact on people's health, and that are not already provided in the community."

Brighton MP Caroline Lucas says she believes the Group's response has been "short-sighted".

• Watch Andy Dickenson's report here.