A charity which helps hundreds of people with autism has shut down with the loss of 40 jobs.

The Sussex Autistic Society has stopped all its services with immediate effect and its main office in Arundel will shut today. (fri) Families who rely on the charity have been left angry and devastated.

Society chief executive Lisa Perks blamed the impact of the recession and a drop in funding from West Sussex County Council for the charity’s decision.

She said the loss of a council contract for some of the society's services had led to a 35% fall in its income.

The decision was made by the executive board at a meeting on Sunday and the charity was made insolvent on Monday.

Counsellors, support workers and admin staff are now all looking for new jobs.

Ms Perks said: “I am absolutely devastated that it has come to this. We are an absolute lifeline with many families and adults with autism who need our help and support.

“We tried really hard to keep going but we have had a drop in donations in general and from legacies and trust funds, as well as losing the council commission.

“It was a really difficult decision to make but we could no longer keep going.

“People with conditions like autism and Asperger's often like to have a routine so having to face these changes so suddenly will be very unsettling for them.

“We are doing everything we can to help them find help from other organisations around the county but everyone is very upset and angry.”

The charity, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary, helps 200 families across Sussex and needs £700,000 a year to provide its full range of help.

It was given an excellent rating from the Care Quality Commission for the standard of services it provided.

This includes providing care and support in people's homes and in the community, sessions at family centres, parent support groups and help for adults with autism so they can be more independent.

A county council spokesman said: “The council has a contract with the society to provide services to children with autism and their families which ends this month.

“Under the council's standing orders it is necessary to re-tender contracts from time to time to ensure fairness to all possible service providers.

“This process is currently being set up and the society would have been able to bid for a further contract.

"Almost all the families who were receiving a service from the society have transferred to other services funded through the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme.

“A small number were purchasing care direct from the society and council staff are working with them to ensure that other suitable options are available."

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton said he would be having urgent talks with the council.