A CENTRE for elders of the ethnic minority community is looking for financial backing in order to continue its work.

The Hamdard Centre, Garbett Street, Accrington, has offered a variety of services to local people for two years but a problem with a planning application means they might need to find other premises.

Executive members believed that use of the residential building had already been changed as it was previously used by Hyndburn Homewise.

But when they applied for planning permission for an extension to provide better disabled facilities at the rear of the centre they discovered that this was not the case as no previous planning application had been put in for the property because the service offered was different.

Jemshad Ahmed said: "We thought the change of use had already gone through but it hadn't so we had to apply then and it was rejected but there is no question of it closing down.

"We will have to relocate and are having a meeting next week with the internal executives before meeting with the council to discuss matters. "We have various options to look into including the old Co-op building on the same street and the council will help with this but there is a problem of funding."

Currently financial support for the running of the group is provided by a number of organisations but moving to larger premises will put a strain on the limited resources.

The centre has around 60 visitors each week who call for advice, information and help with completing forms, legal matters and health. There is also a weekly luncheon club, sewing classes and English lessons as well as the provision of newspapers, magazines and satellite television.

Mr Ahmed added: "It is like a big family here now and there are new people coming in every day -- in a way this could be a blessing in disguise but we hadn't planned to move to a bigger place for about two years."

Coun Salim Mulla, who is involved with the community development project QAAF in Blackburn, said: "This is a well used and well established centre which provides a very good service and It would be very sad to lose such a valuable service for members of the community.

"There is a lot of deprivation in this area but this is helping to provide people with skills and the group is trying to develop the community by having education classes."

"And because it is at the heart of the community it is more accessible for elderly visitors and not as daunting as it would be in a town centre."

Hyndburn Borough Council confirmed that discussions had been held with organisers at the Hamdard Centre and that further discussion will take place in the next couple of weeks.