EMERGENCY funding for vulnerable people has been cut by more than 70 per cent in the past five years.

The budget for the scheme that acts as a lifeline for people swept into crisis has been slashed to £150,000.

Campaigners warn the local welfare schemes are on the brink of collapse across England where 28 councils have now closed the fund.

More than 6,020 applications have been made for the funding in Bury since the scheme started in 2013.

This year, more than 1,000 applications have been submitted to the council, a Freedom of Information request by Church Action on Poverty revealed.

The Bury Times understands that the scheme was oversubscribed last year, and the council is expecting to overspend on the local welfare assistance scheme budget again this year.

The scheme helps vulnerable people in short-term crisis with things such as food, lighting, heating or essential household items.

It can also be used to help people returning to live independently after being in care, hospital or prison, staying in their home rather than going into care or fleeing domestic violence.

A council spokesman said: “Tackling poverty is extremely important to us, and we are actually spending £25k more on these payments than the government gives us, so the reason for the reduction is simply due to reduced funding from central government.

“People who make a claim for support but do not satisfy the qualifying criteria are offered help on other sources of income – such as Universal Credit advance payments, given advice on how to pursue and complete claims, assisted to claim Council Tax Support and or Discretionary Housing payments."

The council also pays a dedicated Citizens Advice Bureau worker to work with residents solve long-term issues rather than just fix the immediate issue of cash shortage.

It is also working with Manchester Credit Union to increase awareness of their services.