A REFURBISHED community centre in Burnley has been officially opened.

The Burnley Wood Community Centre, in Springfield Road, is operated ‘by the community for the community’ and houses a cafe, internet facilities, a luncheon club and children’s activities.

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The centre has been reopened following a major refurbishment by offenders under the Community Payback programme operated by Cumbria and Lancashire Community Rehabilitation Company.

A team of eight offenders completed 650 hours of unpaid work for the refurbishment, which occurred on the weekends to enable the centre to stay open and serve those living in the area.

Karen Heseltine, the centre activities and booking manager, said: “The team were fantastic.

“They came in every Sunday for about three months.

“They took real ownership of the project with every room on the ground floor being cleaned, surfaces prepared before being redecorated.

“They treated everything with respect, as if it was their own.

“I would have them back anytime.”

Coun Andy Tatchell, the mayor of Burnley, visited the community centre to declare it reopen.

He said: “It is a wonderful place.

“It was a really good idea to use the community payback scheme.

“The place is absolutely tremendous and it was packed out with youngsters. It is great for them to have somewhere to go. The centre has made a real difference, it is a tremendous resource.

“It is a real asset to the community.”

Anyone can nominate a project to be tackled under community payback.

Other types of work considered includes graffiti removal, environmental projects and cleaning up children’s playgrounds To find out if your area qualifies check out the full details on the page at www.clcrc.co.uk