A COMMUNITY centre that has reopened after being gutted by fire is facing a financial crisis.

Stanley Community Centre, in the town's Tyne Road, suffered damage estimated at about £750,000 in a fire in March last year.

It reopened recently following an extensive refurbishment, but many of the groups that once made it a thriving community centre have since found alternative venues for their meetings or have folded.

Tommy Miller, community association secretary, said: "It was devastating. Without anywhere to meet, a lot of them disbanded.

"Even though the centre is open again, we are losing money because we haven't got enough groups back in.

"The insurance paid for most of the repairs, but we have had to pay for redecorating the downstairs and that will run to thousands of pounds."

Some of the most popular groups, including sequence dancing and the camera club, found temporary homes and have now returned to the centre.

However, the disruption caused by the fire has seen membership numbers dwindle.

"The orchestra is down to about five members now," said Mr Miller. "If these groups don't get more people in, they will just fold."

The refurbished centre contains the facilities it used to offer - nine rooms including an arts room, engineering room, dance floors and a kitchen.

Clubs and societies that use the centre offer a range of hobbies, such as sewing, knitting, dancing, choir singing and war games.

For further details about events available at the community centre, call (01207) 233512.