AFTER five years operating in the community, Longbarn Residents' Association has opened its first official base.

The residents' association has established Padgate Library as its home after leasing office space on the first floor.

First set up in 2012, Longbarn Residents' Association has been searching for a base for the past 18 months.

Chairman Geoff Orange said: "It's a big day for us and we're really pleased.

"We've been going since 2012 and it's been embarrassing when we've had to meet people while walking the streets.

"Now we're going to be able to move forward - we've been meeting in my house or the treasurer's house or the secretary's house, and it's not ideal.

"To have somewhere like this, where we can bring people in and talk to them in a professional manner, is absolutely wonderful."

The residents' association's base was officially opened on Wednesday, October 25 by Cllr Tony Higgins.

Geoff added: "The lease has been signed very quickly, but once we said that we were coming everybody involved was absolutely tremendous.

"The library staff here are excellent, and the staff at Warrington Borough Council and Livewire couldn't do enough for us.

"What we're really pleased about is that Poulton-with-Fearnhead Parish Council have agreed to fund our base for 12 months.

"That's absolutely wonderful - it takes the pressure off us because we do so much, and if we were looking for this sort of money on top of that it would be very difficult."