A CASH crisis could force Wellington-based adult support organisation WHERE to close with the possible loss of six jobs just days before Christmas.

WHERE - Westcountry Health Education and Research Enterprise - based at the Northfield Centre, North Street in the town, and seen as a 'second home' to hundreds of local elderly and vulnerable people, has seen its running costs outstrip its income.

Now, letters have been sent to six members of staff, including chief executive Barbara Ford, advising them they could face redundancy.

A stormy annual meeting took place at the Northfield Centre on Monday when a number of pensioners and other users of the centre's facilities voiced their anger at the possibility of its closure.

Andrew Govier, vice chairman of the organisation's governing board, said:

"Due to severe financial difficulties the Board of WHERE is having to consider options for the future of the organisation, including the possibility of closure."

See this week's WWN for the full story