THE man who ran Blackburn's YMCA today described its current base as a noose around the charity's neck.

Former chief executive Gordon Williams spoke after it was revealed the "vast" Clarence Street building had been sold to a housing developer for flats.

News that the Young Men's Christian Association, set up to look after the interests of young men, will have to leave its home of 34 years was described by Little Harwood councillor Frank Gorton as "a tragedy."

Gordon Williams retired from the job eight years ago, after 21 years as the chief executive of the organisation.

Today he said the sale of the purpose-built building off Preston New Road was long overdue and the money from selling the building could be used to fund important youth work in the future.

He said: "It has always been a great struggle to fund such a vast building but years ago we had the monopoly on leisure facilities and could raise funding through that. "I remember when our squash courts opened and we had 400 squash members but the YMCA's aims and objectives have changed and we must move with the times.

"Even in the 1980s it was costing us £64,000 a year just to keep the doors open and we always struggled to break even -- that building has been a huge millstone.

"Selling the current building is a positive step to release funding for work that needs to be done with young people in Blackburn.

"The town has plenty of leisure facilities now and there is no point in us duplicating services, that is not what the organisation is about.

"This is definitely an end of an era but I still think they should have moved ages ago. Now they will be able to meets the needs of a changing community and carry on their work with youngsters."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said that he had taken his children to numerous parties at the venue and was sorry to see it go as it was the only facility of its kind in the whole of East Lancashire. He said: "I am sorry to see it go but I can see why they are selling it and the reasons behind it make perfect sense.

"The YMCA is committed to working with youngsters and by selling the building they are securing their future."

Ian Sadler, chief executive of Blackburn YMCA Ltd, confirmed the sale had been agreed through property agents Trevor Dawson for a "substantial amount" and they would be out of the building by March.