NEARLY two years since they fought to save their beloved community centre, a group of Mudeford residents will officially take control of it come April 1.

Residents who formed the Friends of Mudeford Wood in the battle to try and save the community centre in Pipers Drive have now formed a trust to take over the day to day running of the centre.

In 2010, Christchurch Borough Council consulted on whether to keep the centre open, saying only a few current users would be inconvenienced if it closed.

But users and local people rallied and campaigned about the prospect, writing letters, emails and organising a 1,600-signature petition.

And committed to the cause, the Friends won a reprieve with the council agreeing to work with them to secure a future for the amenity.

A special celebration fun day will be held on Saturday April 28 between 10am and 4pm.

Dawn Brookes, chairperson of Mudeford Wood Community Trust said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be celebrating the Trust taking over the management of the centre in such a spectacular fashion.

“The Fun Day will be an enormous event with stalls, games, competitions and activities for all the family.

“This really is a cause for celebration; just a matter of months ago local residents and users of Mudeford Wood Community Centre were expecting to see the home of their playgroup or favourite pastime shut down.

“But thanks to a handful of very committed local residents who dedicated a huge amount of time to writing business plans and collaborating with the council, the transfer day is in sight.

“We hope the local community will continue to support the centre as they have done so admirably in recent months and come along on Saturday April 28.”

Dawn said the event on April 28 would be just like a village fete with the theme pirates and princesses.

Taking place between 10am-4pm, there will be a bouncy castle, face painting, a bake-off competition judged by local chefs a children’s entertainer and other stalls.

Go to mudefordwoodcommunitycentre.co.uk for more information.