A WOMEN'S centre is set to axe three workers and says it faces closure because of a financial crisis.

The Women's Aid Wish Centre, in Cardwell Place, Blackburn, needs £100,000 a year to keep running and employ seven staff.

But the centre, which specialises in counselling, legal, welfare and housing advice, says a downturn in funding has forced it to make three people redundant.

The axe comes at a time when the number of domestic abuses cases in Blackburn has risen. More than 200 incidents of abuse against women were reported in Blackburn and Darwen between April 1 2001 and February 15 2002.

Vivienne Blackledge, a volunteer for the Wish management team, said the grants have just dried up. "We now have to compete with specialised bids relating to all different kinds of projects for the same funds, but issues facing Wish fall into so many different categories: criminal and civil law, housing, children, assaults.

The list goes on."

Linda Thompson, manager of Wish, said: "We just have not got the experts in a voluntary organisation to plough through the ins and outs of legalities, making it very difficult to raise badly-needed cash.

"We feel empowered by all the behind-the-scenes support we get, but there just isn't the financial backing. We had one lump sum that we have divided up to cover the monthly outgoings of the centre which reach more than £8,000."

In the short term the centre is applying for further grants from the Children Fund and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. In the longer term, the Wish team is hopeful of a successful Lottery bid, which would secure the centre's future for a further three years.

Applications for funding have also been made by Wish to Children In Need and Comic Relief. Funds which have been received to date include Single Regeneration Budget funding for one out-reach worker and £24,000 from Supported Housing Management Grant.

A further £15,000 from the Government policy department and National Lottery Charities Board funding has helped meet the £100,000 annual bill to keep the centre open in the last year.

The Mayor of Blackburn, Coun John Williams, is due to open a garden at the the centre tomorrow.