A thriving Bristol community centre that was in danger of closing has been saved.

Whitchurch Community Centre has been in use for more than 50 years for activities like dancing, art, flower arranging, indoor bowls and parties.

But on June 6 the Evening Post reported that Tom and Cicely Whitehead, the chairman and secretary of the management trustees, were stepping down.

The couple, who at 69 were two of the youngest members of the committee, were desperately trying to find new blood to fill their vital positions that are necessary to run the centre as a charity and therefore keep it open but nobody was coming forward.

But last night the community breathed a sigh of relief as local businessman Tim Thorne, 49, and Sarah Fletcher, 26, were installed into the positions of chairman and secretary.

The situation had reached breaking point because since 1985 the hall has been a registered charity and must have separate holding and management trustees.

Whitchurch Parish Council are the holding trustees, while a voluntary group of 10 make up the management trustees and must have both a chairman and a secretary to survive.

Mrs Whitehead put up advertisements everywhere in a desperate bid to fill the positions before contacting the Evening Post to ask for our help.

And last week, just as hope was running out for the community centre, Mr Thorne came forward to say he would fill the position of chairman, while Miss Fletcher said she would fill the position of secretary.

Mrs Whitehead said: "It was a huge relief. At long last people came forward to save the village's community centre.

"A lot of people saw the article about the club's possible closure in the Evening Post and also at our last meeting in May I put up final notices saying 'do you really want this venue to close?' and it seemed to get the message across."

New chairman Mr Thorne said: "It was a community project and it looked to be in serious danger. We are losing enough things in the community with people trying to erase our green spaces and everything else so I felt it was important to get on board.

"I just felt the situation was getting dire and that somebody needed to stand up and be counted.

"It's a wonderful centre and an excellent amenity for Whitchurch. To have seen it collapse would have been awful.

Miss Fletcher, an administrator who lives in Whitchurch, added: "I read about the community centre being under threat of closure and thought I would help out because I have used it on a few occasions for Taekwondo and it's a really good facility.

"It would have been a great shame for the community to see it close and would have been greatly missed so I am happy to help."