An elderly care charity is to close its local services and seven stores over financial challenges it faces.

Age UK West Cumbria said it was “sad and disappointed” to have to stop its services and the trading of its shops from 31 May.

The charity said its “number one priority” was now to look at how it could best support elderly people in the area.

Age UK has stores in Workington, Egremont, Cockermouth, Whitehaven, Wigton and Cleator Moor.

The charity’s deputy chief executive, Nicola Martin, said: “Age UK West Cumbria has faced a number of financial challenges and unfortunately the board of trustees have made the difficult decision to cease operating on 31 May.”

The charity acknowledged it would be “upsetting for the people it supported, its staff, volunteers and stakeholders”.

“We are sad and disappointed that it has come to this,” she continued.

Ms Martin said her team had contacted everyone affected by the closures and would continue to update beneficiaries, staff and volunteers.