A CHARITY that helps people recovering from alcohol and drug addiction wants to create a drop-in centre - in what is currently a pub.

Changing Lives has agreed to buy the Melbourne pub, in Cemetery Road, York, and now hopes to secure planning permission for the project.

However, regulars have objected to the scheme and have even launched a petition to save the pub.

“Lots of locals now use it and it has a great atmosphere,” said one.

The charity already has a day facility in the city but operations manager Andy Ryan said a drop-in recovery centre would aid its work.

“For us, it is a little bit of fingers crossed time so that we can get the go-ahead,” he said.

“This will be a real asset to the recovery community and the community as a whole.”

Changing Lives has other bases in Gateshead, North Tyneside and Blyth where Mr Ryan said recovery centres have proved successful.

He added: “We have been looking at purchasing a building for the last 12 months, so that we can follow the same model that Changing Lives has elsewhere.

“The idea of the recovery centre is to support people in transition.

“Somebody will be there to help people get back into work and education. It is about rebuilding lives and getting people back into the community.”