A service set up to help young people is threatened with closure after a council gave it just a third of the money it needs to survive.

Newhaven-based counselling and advice service Just Ask requested a one-off grant of £6,000 from Lewes District Council to enable it to keep operating until the start of the new financial year in April.

The council offered £2,000, and said it had no budget from which a £6,000 grant could be made to a voluntary sector organisation.

Just Ask provides a range of free and confidential services to under-25s in Seaford, Lewes, Peacehaven and Newhaven.

It offers advice on housing, employment, benefits, drugs and alcohol, sexual health with free pregnancy testing and condom distribution and a support service.

It also provides counselling and works closely with local schools.

Co-ordinator Kate Robinson said: "We have funding to take us up until January but no funding to allow us to keep going after that."

The charity is appealing against the council's decision.

Six months ago Just Ask decided it needed a long-term funding strategy if it was to secure its future.

It applied for lottery funding to aid its development over three years but found itself in financial crisis after a decision on the application was delayed.

The result will not now be known until January at the earliest and any lottery funding approved will not be available until April.

Just Ask has secured grants from several local authorities safeguarding its future until December 31 but approached the district council in a bid to stay open into next year.

In addition to the one-off £6,000 grant, Just Ask asked the district council to add it to the voluntary organisations receiving council funding.

The council said its limited capability restricted its funding of voluntary organisations to the Citizens Advice Bureau and three other projects.

Kate Robinson said: "We are appealing to the council to have a rethink."

She said there was a heavy demand for the service in the district, adding: "On average we see between 70 and 80 people a month although we tend to be much busier in the winter.

"I'm the only paid worker and do 21 hours a week, but ideally I'd love to open more than two afternoons a week and see more people."