A MALVERN charity fears it will face problems in re-launching a furniture redistribution scheme unless it gets help to cover costs incurred by new legislation.

Community Action, based on Church Street, wants to restart the scheme for people in need as soon as funds are available.

However, organisers are worried the project, suspended due to a lack of money, will come up against problems experienced by another charity that redistributes furniture throughout South Worcestershire.

Evesham-based Roundabout ran a scheme to redistribute fridges and freezer for more than half a decade and handled 30 freezers, 40 fridge freezers and 53 refrigerators during the last financial year.

However, a new law covering their disposal has made it too expensive to get rid of those items past being reused. An appeal to Worcestershire County Council to dispose of redundant units on the charity's behalf was turned down.

Diane Bellamy, deputy co-ordinator of Community Action, said she thought Worcestershire County Council should be supporting Roundabout's efforts to recycle fridges and freezers. As soon as funds are found, the Malvern organisation wants to carry out similar work but could find itself in the same position.

Ms Bellamy said that there was a "desperate need" for such services. Community Action had refurbished and delivered 7,000 items of furniture to more than 1,700 homes over 10 years before its scheme was suspended.

Bob Pooler, manager of Roundabout, expressed his disappointment.

"We still have a demand for fridges and freezers and I'm sure that of those being taken to landfill sites there are some in working order that could be reused," he said. "I thought the council would be supportive. Whatever we recycle is bound to have an effect, however small."

Jeff Romanis, head of waste management at the council, said it would be reassessing its position in relation to Roundabout's fridge recycling scheme.

"Our policy is that we do not usually give concessions to charities but in the circumstances we'll look at the situation and see what we can do," he said.