A HISTORIC mansion that once hosted a royal banquet before falling into disrepair has been transformed into a £4.3m youth centre.

With its feature walls, exposed brickwork and modern lighting, the Custom House in the St Hilda's area of Middlesbrough has been given a 21st Century makeover to complement its original Georgian period features.

It is hoped the grade II-listed building, in North Street, whic was built in 1835, will attract up to 8,000 13 to 19-yearolds a year from across the community when it opens on Monday.

It includes an internet cafe, alcohol-free nightclub, sensory room, recording and film studios and soundproof practice room, together with an amphitheatre, meadow garden and allotments.

It will also run apprenticeship schemes and house a health clinic providing drug and alcohol counselling as well as sexual health and teenage pregnancy advice.

Several youth centres are expected to close in the town as a result of Government's spending cuts which are forcing the town to cut £13.8m this year from its budget.

With views of the iconic Transporter Bridge, the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough College and Anish Kapoor's renowned Temenos sculpture, Wendy Kelly, Myplace project manager, said Middlehaven was a fitting location for the new world-class youth centre.

"It is a shame that some of the youth provision is going, so we need to provide these services in a different way.

"It is acting as a hub and bringing together a range of different organisations. The wrap around care that the young people will get is improved."

Tommy Dunn, 17, a youth ambassador for the town and a DJ, was impressed by the new facilities in the building, which hosted a reception and banquet in honour of the Duke of Sussex - Queen Victoria's uncle - who was Middlesbrough's first royal visitor in 1838.

"I was opposed to the closure of some of the youth centres, but most have just one room, wheras this offers so much more. It is getting harder and harder to get into university due to the entry requirements and tuition fees, but this will give people extra employment opportunities to help give them the edge when finding a job, I think I will definitely use it."