A COMMUNITY centre which faced closure last year has fought back to launch its own website.

The future looked bleak as funding came to an end for Hunwick Community Centre, in June last year.

But villagers refused to be beaten and rallied round to save what is now a vibrant part of their community.

Chairman of the community centre Father Stewart Irwin said that he had been overwhelmed by the response received from a cry for help.

He said: "We did our own mini-appraisal and sent a questionaire out to the village to ask if anyone would be interested in helping out.

"About 30 people came back to us and we now have a management committee of 12 people and a revamped constitution. We are also in the process of trying to open up the other half of the community centre, which is closed at the moment. Demand is so great."

A massive turnaround has seen the introduction of football sessions, yoga, aerobics IT and computer skills, healthy living, arts and crafts classes, a library facility with books, videos and CDs. There is even a pre-school class.

Treasurer Alistair Melville said: "We just asked the people in the village what they wanted to get from the community centre and most people said they wanted football. This is one of the most popular things we do."

The primary school is also part of the testbed cyber project involving other schools in the area. This enables regular computer and Internet access for the community.

The centre held an open day this week to show residents what it had to offer and to launch its website.

Hunwick.net will eventually hold pages from all sorts of community groups in the village from the football and cricket teams to the church.

Father Irwin said: "The committee has given up a good few hours to put on this open day. They have worked really hard to get us where we are today. I think the website is great. We just want people to see what Hunwick is really like. The people are fun and enthusiastic and it is a really vibrant place to be."