A charity which helped unemployed and vulnerable people in the borough has closed.

The Vine Project, which had a branch in the St Nicholas Centre, Sutton, closed its doors after failing to secure further grant funding.

Since it opened 15 years ago the Vine Project has provided furniture, volunteering and employment opportunities for unemployed and vulnerable people.

The charity announced that both its Sutton and Mitcham sites would close immediately on November 20.

Former chief executive, Monica Tyler, said, "The charity has always been dependent on grant funding to support its operations and these have been cut severely in recent years. "We have worked hard to change to a self sufficient social enterprise, by growing our business and diversifying income streams.

"But in the current environment and economic climate we were not able to attract sufficient core grant to assist us through the transition period from charity to social enterprise’.

According to its own figures this year The Vine Project helped 5,000 low-income families and individuals with cut-price furniture. 400 volunteer and work placements were secured and 100 tonnes of waste were diverted from landfill to be recycled or reused.