FUNDRAISERS are working hard to plug a £600,000 gap for a futuristic multi-million pound community centre.

All Souls Church in Astley Street, Halliwell, was dealt a major blow after hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding was withdrawn earlier this year.

The North West Development Agency (NWDA) told project leaders they would no longer receive the £600,000 allocated to All Souls in June.

But fresh bids for funding are now in place and All Souls is hoping for good news by the end of 2010.

The Grade II-listed building will provide youth and education activities, job services and will also act as a cafe and a drop-in centre for the elderly.

It may also provide a health centre, a dental surgery and a base for police. The facilities will be housed in two space-age freestanding glass “pods” that will provide high-level walkways with views of stained-glass windows inside the church.

Matthew McKeague, regeneration officer for the Churches Conservation Trust, said: “We are currently working hard on fundraising and have a number of bids either in development or being considered by funders.

“Decisions can take a while but we hope we’ll have some news on the funding front by November or December.”

The project started five years ago when residents joined forces with the Churches Conservation Trust to seek funding.

A £3.3 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will pay for most of the work, while CCT has provided £250,000 and Bolton Council has invested £150,000.

The team also secured £50,000 of “landfill funding” from Biffa.

Anyone interested in providing funding for the All Souls project should get in touch with fundraisers by going to the website allsoulsbolton.org.uk