18 September 2012 Last updated at 07:58 ET

Anonymous donation of £50,000 saves Wiltshire charity

A mental health charity in Wiltshire has been saved from closure by an anonymous donation of £50,000.

Wiltshire Mind, based in Melksham, had been set to close in mid-November after it was unable to secure new funding.

But an "out-of-the-blue donation" will mean the independent charity can continue to operate for up to a year.

General manager Carolyn Long said: "We need to make sure that we use this donation wisely to help as many people as possible."

The charity, which supports people with mental health problems across the north and west of the county, had been self-financed since 2010 after the local authority withdrew funding.

'Streamlined service'

But in August it was announced that Wiltshire Mind would close as the charity's trustees had found it "almost impossible" to obtain new funding.

"When we were facing closure I think it alerted people to what we do," said Ms Long.

"But it is amazing and quite staggering - it's not going to be easy as we're still in desperate need of funding.

"We've looking at a restructuring plan because if we carried on the way we are, in six months' time the £50,000 would be gone."

The charity will use the money to provide a "streamlined service" in the short term while further funding is sought.

Geoff Brown, the chair of trustees, said the charity was absolutely delighted with the "out-of-the-blue donation".

"Now that we know we can continue to operate beyond November, it is vital that we use this to kick-start fundraising and seek further donations," he said.