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A befriending service run by Age UK in North West Leicestershire may have to stop running after the local authority there say they plan to withdraw its funding. Northwest Leicestershire District Council say they're having to find savings of 2 million pounds in a funding shortfall - and the 21 thousand pound a year grant could be one of those areas where the axe may fall. 81-year-old Sandra Durrant from Coalville is one of those who uses the scheme and has been speaking with Â鶹Éç Radio Leicester's Jo Hollis - and Julie Pearson who co-ordinates the scheme explained to Ady Dayman what the loss of the scheme would mean. --- North West Leicestershire District council said it planned to gradually reduce the Age UK grant by £7,330 annually over the next three years. It said Age UK was a national organisation with other funding streams and that it would work with the charity to find different ways to maintain support for local people. The future of the grant will be decided at the council's budget meeting on 22 February.