BUSINESSES throughout Worcester are being urged to support the half-a-million pound revamp of Tolladine Community Centre.

Plans for the sweeping facelift were passed by the city council in February, but cash is needed to fund the work.

Tolladine community worker Allan Poyner has praised companies in the area for stepping forward to back the renovation.

But he is urging other firms nearby to embrace the plans and help fund the work.

"We're trying to raise as much as we can towards the work on the building," said Mr Poyner, who will be organising fund-raising events for the project.

"Local businesses have been very supportive, but we would urge more to come forward and help us.

"We're hoping to get the roof done by the end of this year, but the rest will be down to when the money becomes available and will be done in stages.

"We're doing whatever we can locally to raise money."

Ward councillor Paul Denham revealed there would be on-site car parking, a new disabled access ramp and lift and new toilets installed and meeting rooms improved.

"It would be nice if local businesses supported the redevelopment," he said.

City councillors gave the go-ahead for plans to replace the flat roof on the community centre and Christ Church building, in Rowan Avenue, with a pitched roof, to make space for a second floor.

"Because we're short of space, we thought the best thing to do was to build upwards and have an extra floor and a new pitched roof," added Coun Denham.

"The flat roof is very easy for kids to get on top of, so this will be better."

After the facelift, which will cost £570,000, the top floor will be allocated to youth groups and the larger space downstairs given to the crche to allow it to expand.