ORGANISERS of a youth cafe to be set up in memory of a community fund-raiser are calling for the help of local businesses to help them secure premises and get vital equipment.

Peter Scott, vice-chairman of the steering committee for the cafe, is urging businesses to come forward with funds and equipment to help make his mother Lillian Scott's dream come true.

Before she died, Lillian was leading an initiative to set up a Darwen cyber cafe to provide a place in town for young people to meet and get advice. The work she started has continued in her memory but the cafe's steering committee needs help if they are to get the idea fully off the ground.

Lillian died nearly two years ago, aged 71, after a heart attack. The same year, she was named one of Blackburn with Darwen's outstanding women of the 20th century. All contributions from her funeral went into an account for the youth cafe.

Her family and friends decided to change the name to Darwen Youth Cafe to help make people aware that more than just computers were on offer there.

Peter said: "We are going to make this work no matter how long it takes, because it is what mum wanted. We need businesses, which have anything which they think might be able to help us, to contact us.

"We have already had a donation from one kind business who gave us some chairs which we have put in storage. We need more of this kind of thing to help us get the show on the road. We need everything from bin bags to computers so really anything would be a great help to us."

Peter and his sister Karen Bradley are currently carrying administration to secure premises at the Babywise building in Wood Street, which they have earmarked for project.

The committee has already spoken to the youngsters in Darwen to find out what they want from cafe.

Karen said: "The children in Darwen were quite forthcoming with what they wanted. Their wish-list was as long as my arm, but even if we can get just a few bits of what they really want, it would make all the difference. Our aim is to get the kids off the streets and give them somewhere where they would be proud to go."

The committee has requested help from various organisations including the Lottery Commission.

Individuals or groups wishing to donate anything can contact steering committee member Ron Ryder at ron@dabber.demon.co.uk.