CHARITY begins at home -- that is the message from a cash-strapped Preston charity which is a urging people to dig deep for local concerns.

Voluntary officers at Galloway's Society for the Blind has blamed a recent drop in voluntary funds on aggressive fund-raising by groups not local to Lancashire.

The 134-year-old charity, which raises cash for blind and partially-sighted people in the area, is urging people to think local before putting money into the pots of out-of-town charities pounding the streets of Preston and South Ribble.

Galloway's director Peter Taylor said: "We are all for global charities doing good work in places that need it, like Africa, but what right have they to collect money in our area and not spend any on our services?

"Recently one of my trustees was stopped to give money towards an air ambulance but it was in Cumbria -- I'm sure Lancashire people need new air ambulances.

"It is like us organising a street collection in Liverpool, it's something we won't do because we don't provide services to blind people in Merseyside.

"Charity does begin at home and as far as we are concerned, home is Lancashire. Our income from donations, and even legacies is appreciably down."

However, John Nickson appeals manager for St Catherine's Hospice, in Lostock Hall -- a charity which has to find £3 every minute to survive -- takes the view that national charities have more resources.

He said: "All charities are important but we have to remember that national charities have better resources such as advertising, so we must remain on our toes and be as original as possible.

"Although we live in a very generous area I understand how difficult it is, especially as 157 more local charities have materialised in the past 20 years.

"There are so many demands on people's pockets and the way to attract attention is to be as original as possible so even the least sexy appeal doesn't suffer.

"It is also important for people to be questioning -- I don't particularly like street collectors because they take a hefty portion in commissions."

In order to rake in those vital funds, Galloways has organised the popular Morecambe Bay walk on Saturday July 28 and 29. To take part call the charity on 744148.