A COTSWOLD youth club saved from closure by members of the community has celebrated its relaunch.

Local youngsters were joined by Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi, town mayor Fay Ivens and supporters to mark the new era of Shipston Youth Club on Friday afternoon.

The future of the club looked bleak after Wawickshire County Council announced it would be withdrawing funding as part of £3.5 million cutbacks in its youth services budget.

But supporters determined to maintain the club formed their own volunteer management committee to take it over and have been working tirelessly – with support from Shipston High School – to raise funds.

Reverend Daniel Pulham, chairman of Shipston Youth Club management committee, said: “I have been involved for the past 10 years and we’ve got the best building and equipment we have had in at least a decade.

“It’s a great place for young people to go and spend time.”

Over the summer the club building, on Darlingscote Road, has had a £35,000 refurbishment funded by the county council.

It has also had repairs to the pool table, a new data projector funded by Shipston Rotary Club and a new table tennis table.

The club offers two junior clubs, for year sevens and eights, which meet from 7pm to 9pm on alternate Tuesdays during the school term, as well as a senior club for year nine and up that runs from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Wednesdays.