A COMMUNITY centre which was trashed by thieves in a raid is fighting for survival.

Catherine Murphy is considering spending thousands of pounds of her own money on the Bacup Hub to turn around its fortunes.

She said the raid in January in which she lost £45,000 had taken its toll on the business, in Burnley Road.

And she is desperate to hear ideas to make it a success once again.

Ms Murphy wants people to give their views on what she should turn the building into to make it a valued community resource and viable business venture.

She said: “It took a bit of my heart when the place was vandalised. But it’s empty most of the time anyway.

“I want people to give me their thoughts on what it should be, but then actually support it when I make the changes.

“I’ve made changes people have asked me to in the past and then no one comes. I’ve poured so much of my own money and energy into the place and I want it to be a community resource but hardly anybody uses the place.

“Last year, I spent £2,000 on a family fun day and charged £3 per person and only 34 people came.”

Before Rossendale Council sold it to Ms Murphy, the community centre did not have enough visitors to cover its running costs.

Added to this, the hub was broken into and vandalised by four crowbar-wielding men in January.

Money was stolen and damage caused, together totalling £60,000, and only £15,000 was recouped via insurance.

Ms Murphy is now considering spending £242,000 converting the ground floor of the centre into a children’s play area and a live action laser tag game.

The first floor would be remain a function room and sports facility.

Ms Murphy said: “However none of the options will be set in stone because if I’m to spend more money on the place then people are going to have to come and use it.

“If I sell it back to the council, it could be an Asda superstore, houses, flats, or a residential home.

“People have to get involved and think about what it is they want there.”

A drop-in consultation is to be held at the hub in early September, where people can share their views and look at drawings of the proposed plans.