YOUNG people are coming back to Westbury Youth Club following a £150,000 refurbishment of the building off Eden Vale Road.

Around eight youngsters turned up for a recent youth club session in the newly-renovated former youth centre close to Westbury Church of England Junior School.

The refurbishment has been paid for by Wiltshire Council and organised in partnership with the Westbury Community Project.

Richard Hatt, the Junior School’s headteacher and chairman of Westbury Community Project, said: "We are really pleased with the new building."

Beth Mullins, the youth club leader, said she was “delighted” with the progress being made and that youngsters were coming back.

She said: “It’s great to see the young people coming back to the club.

“We have been working hard alongside Youth Action Wiltshire to make sure we are Covid-secure.

“We are very lucky that we have two very dedicated volunteers in Fred Beckett and Lorna Whitwood, who are willing to help out at our sessions.”

The club is open on the first Wednesday of every month from 6-7.30pm during term time for young people aged 11-19. Entry is £1.

The youngsters are able to chill out in the café area, or can play basketball, pool and swingball, inside or football outside when weather condition permit.

They are also being taught arts and craft skills - Lorna was teaching some of the youngsters how to make friendship bracelets.

The youth centre has been fully refurbished after vandals caused £50,000-worth off damage to the interior last October.

The club was formerly based at the Leigh Park Community Centre in Westbury, after combining with Warminster Youth Club.

It was based there for six months after moving from Warminster before stopping for the Covid-19 pandemic.