A cadet unit in Bristol could have to close because of a lack of funding.

The Filton Sea Cadets meet every week in temporary cabins at the Dorian Road Territorial Army centre, in Horfield.

But the 50 youngsters of the unit's sea and marine cadets may have to go elsewhere if money can't be found to carry out vital repairs.

The unit, which like all other sea cadet units is a self-contained charity, has to raise its own funds to keep operating.

But every month is a struggle, and it was forced to cancel trips earlier this summer because of insufficient funds.

Now its leaders are appealing for help from the local community to ensure its survival.

Sergeant Scott Stevens, the marine cadets' detachment commander, said: "The unit is in really bad repair at the moment. We have two temporary cabins, one used for a classroom and one for a parade deck.

"The cabins are about 40 or 50 years old, and now the roofs leak. We have already had to shut some of the classrooms because of mould on the walls, broken windows and damp problems."

Sgt Stevens, 28, a builder from Lawrence Weston, has been in the cadets for 15 years and is working to fix the cabins himself.

He said: "I am half way through renovating the cabins myself, but now there is no money to finish the work.

"Our chairwoman was forced to shut the classroom for the marine cadets because the floors are rotting. We are soon going to have to stop taking in new cadets if we can't resolve the problems. We are facing a real threat of closure."

Two weeks ago the unit went on a trip to Dartmouth, but could only afford to hire one minibus, so they had to pick names out of a hat to choose who could go, with 17 of the cadets having to miss out.

And in August the marine cadets section had to cancel a trip to Normandy to lay a wreath at a war cemetery after they couldn't secure funds to pay for the trip. The unit is due to receive a donation of £2,000 from Rolls Royce for a new boat, but struggles to secure day-to-day funding are hitting them hard.

Sgt Stevens said: "Our financial problems are stopping us from doing the things we want to do.

"We are an independent charity, so we are responsible for running our own unit and raising our own money.

"Our outgoings for bills and insurance alone are about £600 a month, and it is a real struggle to pay that.

"Sometimes we get donations from companies, but we have to knock on people's doors and do bag-packing at supermarkets. We are appealing for help, otherwise we may have to close."

Peter Stallibrass, the South West business management director of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, a charity which looks after the 400 units nationwide, said they would do all they could to support the unit.

He said: "We are fully supportive of the Filton unit, which has good staff and is doing a great job in the community. We would provide practical support and guidance to the unit if they felt they had any material issues, but at this stage we are not aware of any threat of closure."

The Filton Sea Cadets' next fundraising event is a Halloween party at The Bradley Stoke pub, on October 31.

To help the unit, call 0117 951 9668.