DBBC receives some funding from the government's New Deal and New Deal for the Disabled.

But that accounts for only 25pc of students and the crisis has grown because of rejection from four other sources it was pinning its hopes on.

The National Lottery, a charity called the Fairburn Trust, Mencap and Bolton Social Services have all said "No".

Social Services chiefs say they would like to help and praise DBBC for its work with people they have referred there. But they say they have no money to help.

Mencap also values the work done, but cannot help because the scheme is not exclusively for people with mental disability.

One lifeline which could be on the horizon is more students -- and thus more funding -- from the New Deal schemes. But even that will not allow DBBC to continue catering for the same number of students as at present.

Bolton MPs Brian Iddon and David Crausby have both promised to investigate whether money might be available from any other sources and have both pledged to help DBBC in any way they can.

Open College NW, based in Lancaster, praises DBBC in a moderators' report for "the high standard of work produced alongside the everyday running of the radio station."

It also praises the collaborative work between DBBC and Bolton Community Education Service and describes the Market Radio project as "an excellent example of widening participation for lifelong learning within the community."