A POPULAR youth project is urgently seeking a new base - or else it will be homeless in three months.

Thirsk Clock is to leave its premises in the town's Market Place when its current lease expires in September.

It has been based on the site, rented from the Nationwide Building Society, for the last six years as it works with local youths.

But now the Nationwide has decided not to renew the lease - so Thirsk Clock is appealing for help to find a new home.

Linda Gibbon, chairwoman of the trustees, said: “Our lease expires in September and we hope someone comes forward to aid us.

“I have a lot of trust in the local community and I feel something will come up and the Thirsk Clock will not close.

“We are helping these young people and we give them somewhere to go and they are grateful. We have people who come from all over to look at how we work.

“We are open to anyone who can help us to find a new location to work from.”

Thirsk Clock planned to move into the former Fourways guest house near its current base in 2006 until a major funder pulled out.

Town councillor Freda Roberts said: “There is a tremendous need for Thirsk Clock. Kids go there for many things including the fact they have no food at home.

“When it gets to the stage when they’re opening on Christmas Day to provide lunch as it’s the only way the kids would get Christmas lunch it shows the level of need.”

The centre caters for youngsters from across Thirsk, Sowerby and other outlying villages with more than 300 visiting regularly.

There are a number of advisors to cater for concerns on several issues plus computers and other facilities.

A Nationwide spokesman said: “There were problems with youths from there causing problems for the staff and customers at the Nationwide nearby.

“Their lease was up for renewal in June and we extended it until September and we’ve given them the last three months rent free.

“We always said we’d ask them to leave although I think they have somewhere to go anyway.”