A CENTRE which was under threat of closure due to a £30,000 funding shortfall has found half of the required money.

Bacup Family Centre, in Hawthorn Road, on the Pennine Road Estate, has been donated a total of £15,000 by individuals, businesses and Greenvale Homes, the social land-lord now responsible for all former Rossendale council houses.

Leila Allen, project manager at the centre, said she had been encouraged by the generosity of those who have come forward with donations.

And she hopes that more money can be found to save the centre from closure.

She said: "Some of the businesses are going to give an annual donation but, at the moment, we are just trying to encourage people to give whatever they can."

Although some money is provided by Rossend-ale Council, £90,000 a year is needed to run the centre, which runs pre-school clubs, parent and toddler groups, play-groups and creches, after-school clubs, and hosts contact visits and parent training.

The centre also does outreach work, and families can call at any time for support and be put in touch with health and social services.

Anyone who would like to help the family centre can contact Leila on 01706 875720.