VOLUNTARY organisations and community groups in Hyndburn are throwing their support behind a new resource centre that opens next month.

The Hyndburn Voluntary and Community Resource Centre, in Cannon Street, has its official opening on September 15 after the council spent £900,000 completely renovating the former St James' School building.

It is expected to have offices, a community hall, meeting rooms, and computer facilities.

Patrick Collister, chief officer at Age Concern Hyndburn, said: "This will be an invaluable resource which will benefit voluntary sector organisations and community groups within Hyndburn."

Refurbishment work has been going on for the past 12 months, and the building, dating back to 1895, has been 'sympathetically restored' to retain its history.

And the head of Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Council for Voluntary Service said all of the centre's office space had already been taken by eager groups.

Christine Fish, chief officer, said: "I think it will be a wonderful resource for the voluntary community sector and it has been a long time coming.

"It will certainly be of value to the community groups, to have brand new office space in a nice building where they can run services for the community and it is a focal point for the community, for anybody from Hyndburn who wishes to use it."