The Sussex Autistic Society, formed in 1980, could shut in a month's time if �20,000 cannot be raised.

Several new initiatives have not been getting enough money to back them up.

Staff are being consulted and the charity might be forced to make redundancies and stop providing services to children's families.

The society's John Hayter said: "Although we've worked very hard to reduce the cost of the services, the amount of money we need each month to continue has almost halved in the past 12 months.

"We have introduced new services [but] I don't think it's a question of overstretching."

Family 'lifeline'

Mr Hayter said there were around 500 families in Sussex who receive the society's newsletter, with as many as 60 regularly using one of its centres in Rustington.

The society is supported through membership fees, donations, community fundraising, council money and charitable grants.

Mr Hayter said the executive committee would meet in early December to decide a way forward in light of the ongoing staff consultation process.

Lindsey Butterfield, from Lancing, whose six-year-old son Jordan has Asperger's syndrome, said it would be "such a shame" if the worst case scenario became reality.

"The society is a lifeline and they support the whole family, not just the child," she said.