AN out-of-date Rishton community centre is to be overhauled, bringing it up to modern safety standards.

The Centre, in School Street, could become a base for local children to meet and enjoy activities if the plans get the go-ahead.

Currently the building, originally operated by the Rishton Welfare Society, an support group for the elderly, is out of date with problems including bad wiring.

Now money has been found to carry out an architect's study, at a cost of £3,500, in the first step to giving the centre a facelift.

It is hoped the move will provide local youth with somewhere to meet, in an effort to cut down on juvenile nuisance. But the scheme could cost as much as £100,000.

PC Kath Barnes, community beat manager for Rishton, said: "This will enable more Rishton youth to use the centre. It's used by many groups at the moment but it could be used by a lot more and it could really use an overhaul.

"We have had some costings done to redo the place and make it a bit more modern and with disabled access and with a bit more room. We were quoted between £80,000 to £100,000.

"The wiring is shot and pretty much everything else is shot. The fire escape was blocked and you couldn't get out.

"We would like to make it more suitable and more useful to all the members of Rishton's community."

A public meeting was due to take place today at The Centre, when ideas for the refurbishment and how to finance it will be discussed.