YOUNGSTERS in Winchcombe could soon have somewhere to 'chill out' on dark winter evenings.

Town Councillor Judith Pugh, who is working with parents and youngsters in the town to set up a coffee bar, told her fellow councillors last week that such a facility was badly needed.

She said youngsters who were not old enough to go to pubs or who were not interested in organised youth club activities were left with nowhere to go in the evenings at the moment.

The meeting heard that youngsters had said they wanted somewhere to go to meet friends, but also wanted it to be similar to an ordinary commercially run coffee shop.

The Conservative Working Men's Club has offered the use of its hall free of charge for the first month to help the coffee bar get started, but will then charge normal rates for the use of the hall after that.

Coun Pugh said the coffee bar idea had the strong backing of local police and would operate a strict no alcohol or drugs policy.

Councillors heard the bar at the working men's club would be locked and there would always be an adult on site when the coffee bar was open.

Initially she said it was planned to open to youngsters between 14 and 18 on Wednesday nights, and charge them an annual membership fee of £1.

A meeting is planned for next Monday where the scheme's details will be discussed further.

The town council agreed to donate £100 to help the organisers buy cups and other utensils.