DREAMS of a new youth and community centre became reality this week when the building was officially handed over to local residents to run.

Chorley Borough Council joined forces with construction company Westbury Homes to fund the £500,000 Fairview Youth and Community Centre in Highfield Road North, Adlington.

Westbury was required to contribute £150,000 towards the project as part of planning permission for the nearby Fairview Farm housing estate.

And as part of the innovative scheme, the council will retain ownership of the building while members of the association will lease and manage it on a day-to-day basis.

The new facility, designed to benefit the whole community, includes a large hall, meeting room, offices, kitchen and toilets as well as self-contained shower and changing rooms.

Outside there will be a football pitch and children's play area.

Councillor Cath Hoyle, Chorley's executive member for life and leisure and local representative in Adlington, handed the keys over to the chairman of the association, Andrea Barnard.

Councillor Hoyle said: "The council has worked closely with the Fairview Youth and Community Association and other partners for the past six years in a bid to develop this new facility and ensure it meets the needs of everyone in the village.

"There has already been considerable local interest in use of it and the association is working to provide a range of facilities for a number of local groups."

Mayor and Mayoress of Chorley, Coun Danny and Mrs Brenda Gee joined Adlington Mayor Coun Florence Molyneaux and Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle, as well as a range of other local people, for the handover.

Members of the association hope to open the new centre in October and are planning to invite the local community in to see it on September 18.