AN advice line for people with autism has closed suddenly as the service struggled to find funding.

Autism Anglia, which has its head office in Colchester, made the announcement on its website.

The charity said a lack of funds has led to a decrease in the amount of support services it is able to provide.

The notice said: “It is with much regret we have made the difficult decision to close our free Autism Advice Line and reduce the help and support we are able to offer to individuals through our Advice Service.For almost 14 years, the charity has sought the required funds needed to run the Autism Advice Service through a combination of applications to grant-making organisations, statutory funding, fundraising events, donations and the charity’s own funds.

“In recent years however austerity has brought a decrease in support voluntary and statutory services have been able to provide, and despite our best efforts it has become increasingly difficult to secure the financial support needed.”

The charity has fought long and hard to keep the service going and but simply cannot continue to run it as a financial loss.

The line closed with immediate effect on Thursday, which means people will not be able to call or email the team seeking general autism or educational advice.

Dee Stringer has used the service for her son Hiro, nine.

After trying to reach many charities for support with her son’s education, health and care plan, she was able to contact someone from Autism Anglia who gave her invaluable advice.

She said: “My son now has an plan which I would not have been able to get.

“I am appealing again as I can’t get him into a Special Educational Needs school.

“He has extreme behaviour issues that the mainstream schools can’t cope with.

“Autism Anglia does not have the funding to attend my meetings but without them I would not have come this far and my son would have been without a school due to so many suspensions.

“Now he attends full time and has an EHCP. Whilst the setting is not ideal I know I can fight to tribunal with the help I got from them.”

The Welfare Rights Service will continue, as will the Adult Aspergers Support Group.

CEO Alan Bicknell said: “We have not been able to attract the funding for some time.

“We have had some statutory funding from local authorities but we have never managed to get a sufficient amount of funding and now those funds have all dried up.

“We have reached out to the clinical commissioning group and local authorities and unfortunately they just aren’t able to help.

“Identifying funding is just becoming harder. We aren’t pointing the finger at anyone in particular.”