THE fight to save a vital homelessness service from the chop will step up a gear next week.

Trowbridge-based Action on Homelessness will open the doors of its Duke Street centre on November 28 to bring attention to its cash-strapped plight.

West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison, a keen supporter of the service, is among a host of guests from the civic and business communities expected to attend.

Charity officials hope members of the public will take the chance to learn about the service and rally behind the cause.

Shock tactics were recruited last month in the run-up to the open day, with posters depicting the west Wiltshire homelessness crisis going up across Trowbridge town centre.

Charity officials need to find up to £60,000 to stay afloat until May, when they can apply for a whole host of grants to cover the centre's £135,000-a-year running costs.

Chief executive Marco Van Tintelen said preparations for the open day were going well.

"We have had confirmation from quite a few county, district and town councils in addition to our MP. It is a very positive sign," he said.

"We have directors of other agencies coming along and hopefully members of the public, who are all invited."

Doors open at 10.30am with a host of information and exhibitions on show.

Centre users have been working with art project workers and volunteers to come up with their own masterpieces some of which will be on sale.

People caught in the homelessness trap will be on hand to talk to guests with other life stories pinned up on display stands.

Mr Van Tintelen said: "It will be interesting for people to see exactly what we do and how we operate."

From April to September the service, which opened in Trowbridge 13 years ago, provided shelter for 2,584 people.

Among options open to charity officials include the possibility of merging the service with other agencies.

Financial problems arose when a short-term Lottery grant came to an end with local authorities unable to bridge the gap.