Funding for community mental health services is due to be cut as a council tries to save millions of pounds.

Kent County Council is having to find £39.1 million in savings and now the authority is warning the voluntary sector will suffer as a result.

Cllr Clair Bell (Con), cabinet member for adult social care services, said cutting the amount the council sends to voluntary services which assist with people's health and wellbeing will generate a saving of £4.3 million.

Officers are currently reviewing exactly what will be cut.

During a meeting of the council's adult social care cabinet committee yesterday, she said: "This is the hardest proposal that's come forward since I've been in my role as portfolio holder and I can't say I am at all happy about it.

"This will mean a significant reduction in the funding we offer to voluntary sector organisations in the community who provide things like wellbeing, mental health, and navigation services."

Navigation services help people plan the support they need, and assist older people with a number of things including getting help with money and benefits, home adaptation, and accessing help in the community.

She added: "No one is less comfortable with this than me. It keeps me awake at night, and not much does.

"There are going to be changes which people are not going to like and we will do our best to work through it."

During the meeting, the council's deputy leader Cllr Peter Oakford (Con), said this was the "most challenging budget period we have ever experienced."

Earlier this week, the council warned of cuts to key areas of service including community wardens, homelessness support, road gritting, and household waste recycling centres.

The authority also looks set to increase council tax for residents by just below 5%.

Cllr Jackie Meade (Lab) said: "We have statutory services which we have to provide, but those statutory services are supported by the preventative services which in turn are supported by the voluntary sector.

"If we are having to cut the voluntary funding, then a lot of these other services will become less effective and some may well fall down."

The budget will be confirmed by the council during a meeting on Thursday, February 9.