Staff at Borehamwood's Community Shop bade a sad farewell this week as funding ran out to keep the advice service open.

For ten years, people have been using the shop in Leeming Road as a drop-in centre for advice on issues such as parenting, claiming benefits and drug addiction.

It has also served as a base for community projects, such as The Vibe youth club.

Its four staff will leave on Friday after Government and other sources of funding ran out.

Many people who have been involved in the shop's work spoke of their sadness at a farewell party on Monday.

Jane Edge, who has been a volunteer on the management committee from day one, said: "I think it's absolutely tragic. All the work that's gone into it, the trust that they have built up within community, it's all gone out of the window.

"There's such a need in this area. Heather Walsh has built up such a rapport and trust with the parents and youngsters and it's just gone."

Health visitor Pam Gledstone has run many joint projects with the shop - including baby massage classes, parenting advice and smoking cessation sessions.

"It's been an incredible resource for our clients, particularly the more vulnerable," she said. "The staff are always approachable, they've treated everybody with such respect and they go out of their way for hours.

"What saddens me is that it wasn't just a stand-alone project. We've lost a neutral venue and we've lost a huge resource in terms of trying to match us up with people who need us.

"This was a very, very cost effective way of doing it and it's going to cost far more now."

The shop is owned by Hertsmere Borough Council, which will keep using it for community projects.

Richard Grove, who has worked with the shop on behalf of the council, said the shop's achievements had been tremendous'.

"It will be different," he said. "It won't necessarily be the drop in four days a week, but it could be two days a week for organisations to deliver their services. It will be more by appointment."

Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council is to pay £10,000 towards using the premises, which is likely to pay for Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) advisors to visit.

The organisation which ran the shop, Hertsmere Community Partnership (HCP), is to merge with Hertsmere Community Voluntary Support (HCVS), which is based at Allum Lane Community Centre in Elstree, and candidates for the new manager are due to be interviewed next week.

Chairman of HCP Sue Pearlman, said: "The funding we had came to an end, and despite huge efforts, we can't replace it."

She said the staff had touched the lives of hundreds of people'.

"Borehamwood would be a poorer place if the shop had never existed," she said.