A counselling service for young people affected by their parents' relationship problems faces closure.

Relateen will be shut in January after its bid for National Lottery cash was turned down.

It needs £10,000 to continue with its work while it reapplies for a £197,000 lottery grant.

The organisation offers free, confidential counselling for young people aged 11 to 18 whose parents have relationship problems or are divorcing.

It was set up by Relate, the adult relationship counselling service, three years ago.

Trish Owen of Brighton Relate and Relateen, said of the lottery knockback: "This is not good news for our team of counsellors.

"But, much more importantly, it is a real blow for the many young people we know desperately need someone to talk to who will understand the difficulties they are experiencing in their life at home.

"It will also let down parents and teachers who refer the young people to the service.

"We want to keep Relateen running so we are now looking urgently for other ways of raising money.

"We would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to support us."

A spokesman for the National Lottery Charities Board said: "We refused it because we didn't have enough money. Fewer people are playing the lottery and therefore there is increasing competition for funds."

He said Relateen's application was rejected because it was for a renewal of funding and the board preferred to allocate money to groups who had previously not received any money.

Anyone who can help with funding should call Trish on 01273 608518, e-mail her at reception@brightonrelate.org.uk or write to Relate Brighton, Hove, Worthing and Districts at 58 Preston Road, Brighton, BN1 4QF.