DR Sarah Wollaston has expressed her regret that a mental health charity, with an outreach branch in South Brent, is to close at the end of June.

Cool Recovery Limited has helped isolated and distressed people in rural areas across the South Hams for the past 15 years.

The group, which held monthly support workshops at The Packhorse Inn, South Brent, said it was 'with a heavy heart' that it was being forced to fold due to a lack of funding.

Only last year Conservative parliamentary candidate Dr Wollaston, shortly after her appointment as chairman of the government's select committee on health, spoke out in praise of the work carried out by the group.

She said this week: 'I am so sorry to hear of the announcement that Cool Recovery will be closing; their volunteers have provided wonderful support and advice to local people.'

In a statement this week, Cool Recovery said: 'It is with deep regret that the trustees and staff have taken the decision to close the charity from June 30.

'This has been brought about by a worsening financial situation and an absence of sufficient funding from statutory sources.'

For more on this story, see this week's Ivybridge & South Brent Gazette