PEOPLE can dance into the early hours to help raise money for Bridport Youth Centre after "devastating" funding cuts.

Following the withdrawal of funding for the youth centre by Dorset County Council, a scheme is being launched to create a new source of finance - to try and ensure that young people can continue to access support, facilities and safe interaction.

Earlier this year, the county council withdrew funding from youth centres to concentrate on a new focused service. Following this, a trust was set up in Bridport to try and keep the youth centre open - but funding is needed.

A series of events will be launched this weekend in order to raise funds for the youth centre. On Saturday (6), a dance party, called Escalator, featuring DJs James Baker, Chiman 101 and Simon Hartung, will be held at the youth centre hall.

The event, which is only open to those aged 18 and older, will also feature a late bar and local takeaway food from the Kitchen Collective.

Creator of Escalator, Andrew Leppard, paid thanks to Bridport Town Council for helping keep the youth centre open and believes people in the town will be able to dance into the early hours for "the first time in years".

He said: "The youth centre really needs our help after these devastating cuts.

"The hall is a wonderful place for events like this, providing Bridport with a friendly venue to dance into the early hours for the first time in years. I think this is the best way for the community to help fund the continuation of the great support that youth workers have been offering our younger ones. Adults can help our youth centre just by showing up to dance and socialise. It's a wonderful community asset and we look forward to seeing it used to maximum capacity. We are very grateful to many local family businesses who have sponsored this, and also to Richard Hewlett who is very kindly providing a quality sound system. And we should give much credit to Bridport Town Council for helping to keep the centre operational."

The event will be held from 9pm until 2.30am at the youth centre along Gundry Lane.