THE Ockment Centre has now temporarily closed its doors to allow vital refurbishments to take place.

The community centre will now be closed until October 1 to allow refurbishment and maintenance works to be carried out on the roof, kitchen, chimney, hall and the heating system.

Lindsey Svensson, manager at the centre, said: 'I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Okehampton Town Council for sticking with us.

'It has been their support, and the support of the Times, which has been pivotal in securing the funding from the larger bodies.

'I'd also like to thank all our customers for sticking by us and we look forward to welcoming them back in October.

'West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox has also been fantastic.'

Although the building works will help to ensure a more viable and sustainable future for the centre, continued support will have to come from the local authorities if the centre is to remain a community centre in the truest sense of the word.

Okehampton town councillor, Tony Leech, said: 'The Ockment Centre cannot ever be a true business if it's to stay as a true community centre.

'I agree wholeheartedly with the management of the centre and we will have to, as local authorities, continue to financially back our community centre.'

Cllr Leech further commented that small groups, who are not commercial organisations and do not have huge amounts of money, use the centre and without it they would have nowhere else to go.

The works taking place between now and October will see the second phase of the roof work completed, the kitchen refurbished, the hall refurbished and the heating system replaced.

Funding for the work has come from Devon County Council, South West Regional Development Agency and Okehampton United Charities.