A NEW youth centre extension has opened in the heart of a city suburb with the hope it will get young people to do more activities.

The Warndon Youth and Community Centre was formally unveiled on Saturday by Worcester mayor Councillor David Tibbutt although children and teenagers have been using the new centre since the end of July.

It replaced the old youth centre in Chedworth Drive, Warndon, after it got too expensive to run.

The new £1.2 million centre, equipped with facilities for cooking, music production, art and sport, is aimed at giving young people in the area something to do.

It is being run by the Worcester Community Trust in partnership with Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council.

The centre’s new youth wing is part of a wider scheme to refresh and improve the nearby park and includes new outdoor play and activity equipment.

Councillor Franics Lankester, the city council’s cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: “We have worked hard to make this wonderful project a reality. The whole community will benefit from this exciting new centre.”

Amanda Hughes, Worcester Community Trust lead youth worker, said: “We’re very fortunate to have what we have got in Warndon.”