A LEARNING centre which was threatened with closure is now so busy students are having to go on waiting lists.

Today and tomorrow, the Redi Centre in Smallwood is hosting parties to hand out certificates of achievement to 125 students who have successfully completed courses.

The centre has been the subject of a Redditch Council shake-up twice in one year and staff were warned they could lose their jobs and services could be cut.

But in May, the Advertiser reported the popular skills centre had been left in the hands of users and staff who had been given the chance to come up with a business plan for it.

Redi administrator Karen Jukes said: "Between September to December we have enrolled 250 students and there are limited numbers we can have on courses.

"We have started enrolling for January now and we are getting pretty full, especially on the computer courses, and there are waiting lists."

Next year the centre will offer courses, which are all accredited, in art, gardening and stress and relaxation.

"It's so busy. We just want the parties to be a way of saying well done to the students for all their hard work and show them our appreciation," added Miss Jukes.

Courses cost as little as £2 for anyone on benefit and £8 for everyone else.