A STREET party marked the transformation of a crumbling derelict house into a modern centre for the community in Farnworth.

Bunting decorated Georgiana Street, which was closed off to traffic and filled with fairground rides and stalls run by community groups that will use the centre.

St Vincent's Housing Association has invested £100,000 renovating the property and transforming it into an Urban Care Centre as part of a government regeneration scheme.

Residents enjoyed the sunshine and inspected the new building, which includes meeting rooms, a kitchen and IT area. Bernadette Tither, aged 49, from Bolton Road, said: "It's about time we had something like this. I'm just sorry it wasn't here when my kids were younger. It's brilliant for the children."

Cawdor Residents Association and Campbell Community Group are two of the main groups which will use the centre to meet and plan improvements for the area.

Activities including creative writing and sign-writing are planned over the summer. Tony Brookes is chairman of Cawdor Residents Association, which represents council tenants and runs samba band Sambada which entertained people at the street party.

He said: "I feel like we're getting somewhere in our aim to improve the area. We've got the usual problems with anti-social behaviour, traffic and drugs.

"I hope now we've got this centre that it will be used. It was a real eyesore before but other areas also need regenerating."

Cawdor Residents Association and Campbell Community Group, which represents private tenants, plan to work together on a steering group at the centre. Officially opening the building, MP for Bolton South-east Brian Iddon said: "The older members of the community will remember a time when real community spirit was alive. We aim to bring that back.

"I am confident that this centre will be used because the support is there from residents. There are other areas which need regeneration and the message to people in those areas is: form a group and you, too, could gain such benefits."

Peter Smith, director of St Vincent's Housing Association, said: "The last time that I saw this building it was a real blight on the area. I hope that it will now be a great community resource."