SOME 20 volunteers took 700 hours to refurbish a day centre for elderly people in St Neots. The project, which has taken most of this year, was carried out by St Neots and District Voluntary Welfare Association which marked 40 years this year. The associ

SOME 20 volunteers took 700 hours to refurbish a day centre for elderly people in St Neots.

The project, which has taken most of this year, was carried out by St Neots and District Voluntary Welfare Association which marked 40 years this year.

The association, which works as a charity serving the St Neots community, was founded by the Rotary Club of St Neots in 1966. It bought the old school in Church Walk and turned it into the centre.

The association's treasurer, Chris Charlton, said there had been a real community effort to update the centre and everyone was proud of their work.

"Present members have continued the link and paid tribute to the foresight of past colleagues, and all ages have joined in."

The work included scraping up some old carpet tiles and replacing them with a new laminated floor, reroofing the shed used to store electric wheelchairs in the rain,

laying a concrete path, digging out old trees, refurbishing the lavatories and thoroughly decorating inside and out.

Among the volunteers were young members of the RAMP group, which has worked for the new skate park in Riverside Park.

The work, which cost around £2,500, was funded by the St Neots Rotary Club with match-funding from the Rotary Foundation and money from St Neots Town

Council.

The refurbishment was celebrated at the annual Christmas Party open to all day centre attendees.

INFORMATION: The day centre is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 3pm, providing refreshments and a two-course lunch, activities and entertainment. Contact centre organiser, Janet Final on 01480 475274.