The heartbreaking news has disgusted workers at the organisation who held a crisis meeting on Friday to discuss options for the call service, which has been described as a lifeline to almost 700 elderly and vulnerable people in the area.

In a letter sent by the DSD this week, members of the Galliagh Community Development group were told crucial funding for the organisation will cease from 31st August.

Community leaders have attacked local government ministers accusing them of completely abandoning people in Galliagh.

Brian O'Doherty, Chief Executive and Financial Director for the Galliagh Community Development Group, who runs the Good Morning Service said he was 'shocked and appalled' at the letter.

"Effectively our funding is gone by the end at the end of August," he told the Sunday Journal.

"We have 14 members of staff, all local people, many of them single parents who will lose their jobs. We have 628 people that we call everyday. For many of them we're their only point of contact, they don't speak to another human being all day, all they have is their television. They are going to lose out so badly if this service goes. It is their daily lifeline.

"We just cannot understand this. There are other groups which have no support in the community and they are being actively funding. Effectively what the DSD are telling us here is that they don't care about us."

Mr. O'Doherty blasted Stormont Ministers who he claims have turned their backs on local communities.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "I can't grasp the thinking behind Margaret Ritchie's decision here. If this is devolution, what good is it. We'd get more respect from an English minister. It seems the only thing projects they are prepared to fund are those run by political parties.

"We won't let this rest. We want reasons for it," he demanded.