A charity which provides free information and advice to people with disabilities in Waveney has issued an urgent appeal for funding.

Lowestoft and Waveney DIAL (Disablement Information and Advice Line) has been running for over 30 years, providing help with benefits applications, advice on access and mobility, and recommendations for local events and activities.

Over the years it has grown to become a successful and much-needed service for local people, with an office in Lowestoft and a team of staff and volunteers.

However due to an incident, which is being investigated by police, the team desperately need to raise funds to continue their work.

A spokesman from Lowestoft and Waveney DIAL management committee said: 'Due to circumstances beyond our control, we urgently need to raise funds so that our charity Lowestoft and Waveney DIAL can continue to provide free impartial information and advice, for disabled people and their carers, who live in Lowestoft and Waveney.

'We would greatly appreciate the continued support of local people and businesses going forward. We appeal to the generous people in Waveney to help us raise funds to enable this excellent service to continue.'

The service costs around £90,000 per annum to run and is reliant on funding from local government grants, donations from local business, clients and other applications for funding which are made throughout the year to cover running costs.

Over the years Lowestoft and Waveney DIAL has dealt with over 200,000 enquiries including accessibility issues, specialist equipment and blue badge enquiries, as well as helping people cope with a new or ongoing disability.

Last year the charity helped local people with long-term health conditions, and their carers, claim £3m in grants and benefits to make their lives easier.

A spokesman from Suffolk Police said: 'Police are investigating an allegation of fraud that has been made against a named individual linked to the charity's accounting procedures. This is an ongoing investigation and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.'

To make a donation, visit www.lowestoftdial.co.uk and click on the donations. You can also visit the charity's Lowestoft office at 161 Rotterdam Road.