The future looks brighter for debt-hit Cradley Community Centre which had been threatened with closure over a cash crisis.

Councillor Tim Crumpton said the centre now has enough money to pay a gas bill arrears of £3k but needs a committee of people to take over the running of it.

He appealed for people to attend a meeting on Monday January 28 at the community centre on Colley Lane to volunteer for posts to preserve its future.

Cllr Crumpton revealed it had come to light the central heating boiler had been running 24/7 and that a £3k water bill was the result of the centre being billed by two companies at the same time and a broken valve in a ladies toilet running up the water meter.

He said: "Me being chairman of the centre doesn't work - I haven't had any help for the last six years - but I haven't done as much as I should have done to get people around me.

"I will continue as trustee. We have got the money to cover everything.

"We have set up a payment plan for the gas bill. The centre is viable we just need people to join the committee to help run it and to hopefully drum up a bit more business."

Councillor Crumpton said the centre, which had only been used for 16 hours a week, most of which is taken up by a karate club, had some new business in the pipeline with two parties being booked and a St Peter's Church in Cradley looking at hiring it for three hours every Sunday.

He said: "The centre is looking very clean and tidy.

"It is a stand alone complex, meaning it's not owned by the council, although we do pay a peppercorn rent."

Chris Legiewicz, of Cradley Residents' Association, which has got on board to save the centre, also appealed for people to attend the meeting.

She said: "This is a great centre and with the right people running it it can be again."

The meeting starts at 8pm prompt. Doors will not open till 8pm.