PUBLIC sector union Unison is to demand face-to-face meetings with councillors in Glasgow to try to persuade them not to axe a citywide mental health service.

The charity Glasgow Association for Mental Health, its staff and their union say council officials have now confirmed they will recommend a 40 per cent cut to the organisation's funding.

Supporters insist that, if backed by councillors, this will effectively close the charity, which provides community mental health services.

Campaigners working to save GAMH are contacting city councillors this week and have also written to the leader of Glasgow City Council, Gordon Matheson, asking for urgent talks.

Unison said GAMH managers had been told by officials that the 40 per cent funding cut would be recommended, but councillors would have the final say.

Deborah Dyer, Unison's organiser for the voluntary sector said: "We are appalled by what is happening. The council know what a dangerous decision this will be and they are therefore all trying to blame each other. Officers first said they were making the decision, now they see the strength of feeling they are wanting the councillors to officially cut the service.

"Hundreds of vulnerable people with complex mental health problems face an uncertain Christmas. We have written to Gordon Matheson at Glasgow City Council to demand an urgent meeting, to ask he be true to his word when he said he would do everything he could to promote mental health in Glasgow."

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said the council faced tight budgets,but councillors had the power reject any budget proposals.