A Cumbrian charity which was set up in the aftermath of the devastating 2015 floods faces being shut down - unless it can raise £25,000 by the end of the month.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) played a key role in helping the victims of Storm Desmond get back on their feet by providing donations of furniture, clothes and food to those most in need.

But 17 months on, the organisation, which was originally established as Eden Flood Volunteers, is running low on funds - and staff are facing redundancy.

"I've lost six paid staff in the last month," Kerryanne Wilde, founder and CEO of CERT told the News & Star.

"Three members of the admin staff have gone, one member of warehouse staff leaves next week and there's someone else that's going tomorrow. FRIDAY

"Everyone else who works with us are just volunteers.

"We haven't got the money to be able to continue with what we're doing. We've been running on a fairly tight budget and the money is running out."

CERT was originally based at the Old Fire Station in Penrith. It currently operates from a former civil engineering lab at the town's Skirsgill Depot, which it has been leasing rent-free from Cumbria County Council.

There are more than 650 flood-affected clients on the charity's books, but it is also helping others in need.

"We need to raise £25,000 by the end of April just to keep going," Kerryanne added. "Since we started we've branched out, we're not just helping flood victims.

"We've had victims of domestic violence referred to us, people who are homeless and people who have just been released from hospital.

"We've worked with citizens advice in Carlisle and South Lakes and we're also working alongside housing associations. We also helped out following the fire at Lonsdale Court in Penrith and when there's been other fires as well.

"Really we need to raise £200,000 and that should keep us going for another year. I've put about £10,000 of my own money into CERT but I just can't afford to put any more in."

In a bid to save CERT, Kerryanne has set up a crowdfunding page and is hoping that people will dig deep. A petition has also been set up on the website 38degrees, with a target of 1,000 signatures.

"We just want to try and get the message out there," Kerryanne said. "Hopefully people will see the position we're in and try to help."

To donate, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-cert-uk