Vital community services will be lost after Knowle West Health Association was told it will no longer receive £22,000 funding from NHS Bristol.

The health association, based at Filwood Community Centre in Barnstaple Road, runs a range of classes and services for local people including healthy eating and keep fit classes, an over-50s group, a men's health group, a creche and a foster carers' group.

It has been nominated for a Queen's Award for voluntary service to the community.

But the group, run by a seven-strong board of volunteers, has been told that it is to lose the £22,000 this year from Bristol NHS. Two staff members will be made redundant and the creche will be run two days a week instead of five.

Keep-fit classes and the healthy eating courses will also go unless the health association can find more sources of funding by April.

It costs £180,000 to keep Knowle West Health Association running. Bristol City Council gives £23,000 a year towards the cost, NHS Bristol will reduce its funding to £35,466, Safer Bristol gave a large contribution this year and the rest comes from charitable organisations such as Quartet.

KWHA chairwoman Carol Casey said: "It's devastating news. After all the effort the volunteers put in to keep things going.

"People's lives will be affected. You expect cuts but not to the extent we have had. The community will lose out on services."

Anyone who is able to help KWHA can contact the organisation via its website www.knowlewesthealthassoc.org.uk or telephone 0117 963 9569.