A MENCAP-run project to help people with learning difficulties find employment is folding due to a crisis in funding.The Neways project, based at Wetheringsett near Stowmarket, allows more than 20 people from the Stowmarket, Eye and Saxmundham areas gain skills recycling various products.

A MENCAP-run project to help people with learning difficulties find employment is folding due to a crisis in funding.

The Neways project, based at Wetheringsett near Stowmarket, allows more than 20 people from the Stowmarket, Eye and Saxmundham areas gain skills recycling various products.

Part of the work carried out by people at the project included recovering silk from spools and shredding yellow page books to create horse litter.

But the project has failed to secure further European funding to continue its work and will now fold.

Jenny Brick, Mencap's regional education and employment manager, said: "Everyone will be disappointed that we have been unable to secure more funding for this project to continue.

"However, working closely with social services, we will be trying to ensure that we can provide other options, such as training and supported employment opportunities, to help people gain more opportunities for independence and allow them to become more involved in their communities.''

Chris Lane, a social care manager with Suffolk County Council which contributes funds to the project, said: "We are not cutting funding, there is no question of us doing so.

"But we are up against severe financial pressure in this and other areas and there is no question that we could bail out the service.''

Tony Alston, Wetheringsett Parish Council chairman and the landlord for the site, said he would like to see the project saved.

Mr Alston said: "Mencap have given me three months notice to quit.

"But it seems a very worthwhile project and I'm trying to see if there are ways we can stop the project collapsing altogether.