WINKLEIGH Community Centre, which was under threat of closure, has been taken over by a community trust.

A new company with four Winkleigh residents as interim directors, entitled the Winkleigh Community Assets Trust, was formed to co-ordinate the takeover of the centre from Devon County Council.

The trust secured the deal on April 8, and now aims to improve the facilities on offer at the centre.

David Lausen, one of the four interim, directors, said: 'The community centre is a much-loved building in need of some TLC.

'Over the next few years we hope to considerably upgrade the building so that new community activities can flourish.

'Winkleigh is fortunate in having a number of community buildings and working together we should be able to attract new user groups here in the heart of Devon.'

The centre, regularly used by the Winkleigh Singers, the pre-school, and for parish council meetings, was set to close at the end of February. Towards the end of January around 80 people gathered outside the building to demonstrate their support for the facility.

The centre was built in 1876, as a board school. It ran as a school until 1903, and began being used as a community centre in 1973.

Initially, the council granted permission for the community to use the Grade II listed building, but refused to guarantee long-term access to the site's car parking facilities, which would remain council property.

Peter Stutt, interim chairman, was ecstatic to have finally clinched the deal: 'At long last, we are free to get on and develop the full potential of the centre for the benefit of Winkleigh and the neighbouring communities.

'A lot will need to be done to make this a success, but, thankfully, the number of new volunteers is growing all the time.'