The special needs charity SNAPPY will be forced to close two projects in less than a week if thousands of pounds are not found.

Managers have named Monday's annual general meeting of the York charity, Special Needs and Play Provision York, as the point when they must admit that the cash won't be donated.

The news follows a desperate month-long fight to get £60,000 to secure the future of Junior and Senior Snappy, the two threatened projects, which offer social lives and life-skills to 14 to 25-year-olds with disabilities.

City of York Council laid down £3,000 to ensure the projects could continue for the month while the campaign for cash was run, and councillors voted to match any money that was made, leaving £30,000 left to find.

But, while £8,000 has been donated by York's generous people, larger donations hoped for from the city's business community have failed to arrive.

SNAPPY's executive officer Anne Pemberton said: "Some businesses have been in touch to make enquiries, but none have seemed willing to make the type of donations that we really need if we are to keep going.

"I think a lot of people heard of the help we got from City of York Council and thought that the projects had been saved.

"But that money was only enough for the very short-term, and that is about to come to an end."

If the money is not found by Monday, the decision to close the projects will be announced to parents, volunteers and others involved at the annual meeting.

Mrs Pemberton said: "We will ask the people at the meeting what they want to see done with the money that has been donated - if we should spend it on something like a week's holiday for the young people, or if we should save it.

"But we are not prepared to limp along any further without any long-term funding."

Generous York residents are refusing to give up in their efforts to save the two charities.

Sarah Gabbatiss, 13, and her sister Emma, 10, today held a table top sale in Ryecroft Avenue, Woodthorpe, with their friend Rhian Davis, whose brother uses SNAPPY.

Staff at Woolworths, in Spurriergate, are holding a Hallowe'en face-painting day on Saturday between 10.30am and 2.30pm, with proceeds being donated to the charity.

And York-based line dancing teachers Tassles and Tush, otherwise known as Jean Tomaino and Steve Murray , have organised a children's line dance for the charity.

It will be held on November 22. For more information contact 01904 413598.

SNAPPY desperately needs donations from the business community.

The charity can be contacted on 01904 640562.