A PROJECT which has produced more than 500 ‘health champions’ is being closed in East Lancashire because of a lack of funding.

Under the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) scheme, ambassadors have been trained up.

But the CVS has been unable to source grants for the work, which saw volunteers take healthy eating and lifestyle messages out into the community for eight years.

Now the co-ordinator, Shirley Ashworth is making plans to continue the work with a new social venture, Champions4Health.

Shirley Hughes, CVS chairman, has paid tribute to Mrs Ashworth's contribution and wished her well for the future.

She said: “Many lives have changed as a result of this fabulous team of active and enthusiastic health champions and positive lifestyle changes will continue to be made as a result.”

Health champions have previously secured category prizes in the Burnley Sports Awards, in 2010 and 2016.

And then-health minister, and former Pendle parliamentary candidate, Jane Ellison visited and was impressed by what she saw.

While it began as a two-year pilot scheme in 2009, further funding was provided by public health bodies and health trusts to keep it on track beyond then.

Mrs Ashworth said: “It is because I passionately believe there is more to be done with this type of project that I decided to keep moving forward as a social enterprise.

“I am grateful for the support of the CVS, going forward, and for believing and keeping the Health Champion project going for eight years.”

The health champions mission has included encouraging people to reduce their fat and sugar intakes, by adopting new diets, and promoting simple and regular exercise.

More than 230 of the volunteers secured formal health improvement qualifications.