COMMUNITY and voluntary groups have given their backing to plans for a new centre at Biddulph Methodist Church in Station Road.

The community resource self-help centre is estimated to cost between £250,000 and £300,000, and could be open by spring 2005.

The aim of the project is to provide a flexible building for the use of groups from the town who currently have nowhere to meet.

The centre could provide a meeting place for children of divorced or separated parents, an education room complete with computers and crche facilities for families out shopping.

The single storey centre would be built on the site of the church car park.

A new car park would be created on the site of the 130-year-old church hall, which is unsuited to modern needs and is earmarked for demolition.

"The church has an asset in this prime town centre site, and we want to develop facilities which can be used for the benefit of the community," said Reverend Philip Lockett, superintendent minister for the Biddulph and Mow Cop circuit.

"We did a community needs assessment, and contacted 84 organisations or individuals.

"We had 34 responses, and all but three said they were desperate for somewhere their group could meet."

The church has received indications of support for £100,000 of the costs of the project, work on which could start next summer.

Church members raised £8,000 at a gift day, and coffee mornings are being held at the church every Tuesday and Wednesday to raise money.