A COUNCIL is to review how it gives money to needy groups after a charity that helps carers and disabled people was refused a £3,000 grant.

Hyndburn Council leader Coun Peter Britcliffe made the promise after Crossroads , of Edgar Street, Accrington, failed to secure the cash because Accrington Area Council said it already had too much money in the bank.

But Margaret Foley, of Crossroads, said: "We are living hand-to-mouth, we need the money and I can't believe the Area Council is not supporting carers."

She also said the money would help provide better help for families with disabled children and elderly people caring for their disabled partners.

Councillors have now relented and said they would defer the application so they could look at it again.

Crossroads was set up in the late 1980s to help carers of people with physical and mental difficulties.

It receives funding from social services, primary care trust, the lottery, Children in Need, local organisations and private donations.

It applied for the money for carpets, blinds and a telephone system for its offices.

Mrs Foley, manager, said: "We have renovated an old building, we have regenerated this area and now you are telling us that you are not supporting us. How come other organisations get money and we, who care for carers, don't?

"If we don't get the money we won't be able to help people who need us. Like a mother who couldn't cope preparing her three able bodied children and her disabled child for school in a morning without us." Coun Pam Barton said: "On the form that we got it said that there was substantial money in the bank. Perhaps the form has been filled in, but wrongly, by someone. We can only go on what is on the form."

Coun Bernard Dobson said: "We are not being unsympathetic but we are trying to spread the money around. We have a set of criteria that has to be adhered to. The decision will be deferred until the next meeting in September."

Coun Britcliffe said: "Perhaps we can arrange for a meeting to look at the form. I think should look at the criteria that decides grants." and how we give to one group or the other."