A Mole Valley charity is desperately seeking a new home after making the ‘heartbreaking’ decision to temporarily stop its support of around 40 homeless, vulnerable and socially-isolated people each day.

The Pitstop, which provide free lunches, anger management classes, job training and assistance with accommodation, has used temporary premises ever since its original site at Leatherhead Football Club was severely flooded on Christmas Eve 2013.

Oct 17: Pitstop finds potential new home after floods "washed away" day centre

The previous site, Leatherhead United Reformed Church, was taken over by an educational organisation, with whom it had a previous commitment, on Monday, August 27.

Chairman of trustees Richard Langtry, 70, said: "When we had to close our doors it was absolutely heartbreaking - some of the trustees were in tears but we had no choice.

"It was an agonising decision, but what was even worse was when we had to tell our clients. It was a massive blow for all of us."

The Pitstop has struggled to find a home, Mr Langtry said, because prospective landlords are concerned about the behaviour of some of the people they support, who are often homeless or battling substance abuse issues.

The charity is now looking to buy premises with enough space to provide job training classes and anger management services, which it was unable to at the church.

And Mr Langtry said that after the Pitstop’s ‘grave failure’ to find a new home, he and the trustees are ‘determined to be back and better than before’.

At its peak, the Pitstop provided lunch for at least 40 people per day who now have nowhere to go, since the borough’s other organisations for the vulnerable do not provide this service.

Local Rotary clubs have urged Mole Valley District Council to help re-open Pitstop as soon as possible, saying it would be a ‘tragedy’ to lose such an important facility.

Simon Edmands, of the Leatherhead Rotary Club, said: "We’ve been supporters of the Pitstop for many years and we’re very sorry to hear of the charity’s imminent closure.

"We urge Mole Valley District Council and all local councillors to help them find a new home as soon as possible."

However, MVDC’s executive member for community engagement and resident services admitted the council had not had any success in finding a solution.

Councillor Vivienne Michael said: "We have worked closely with the chairman and senior members of the charity, exploring options for accommodation, including looking for possibilities within our own property portfolio.

"Unfortunately, to date we have been unable to find a solution that suited the charity’s needs. We will be continuing to support them in their ongoing search for a new home.

"The council is committed to supporting those who find themselves homeless and we are fully aware of the important work the Pitstop does to offer help to vulnerable members of the community."

If you believe you can help the Pitstop find a new home, contact Ben Weich at ben.weich@london.newsquest.co.uk or the charity’s chairman of trustees, Mr Langtry at richard.langtry@sky.com