A YOUTH centre will open its doors this weekend - allowing the public to see the future plans for the building.

The event, which takes place on Saturday (16) at Bridport Youth and Community Centre, will also allow young people, as well as their family members and friends, to visit the centre and see what is on offer.

Cllr Ros Kayes, chairman of the youth and community centre interim trust, said: "Please come along and give us your ideas as to how you'd like to see the youth and community centre develop.

"Lots of people don't know what goes on there or even what it looks like inside. We will have a suggestion board so you can give us your ideas - and this includes putting on activities for younger people, ways we might use the recording studio and some of the other space available.

"Parents should feel free to bring their children along or just bring themselves. Young people from the youth council have already suggested some great ideas and you can comment on them or suggest some of your own."

Earlier this year, Dorset County Council agreed to withdraw funding from youth centres, including Bridport Youth and Community Centre, to concentrate on a new focused service.

Following this, groups across the county set to work trying to keep centres open. In May, the county council agreed to transfer the lease of the building to Bridport Youth and Community Centre Trust.

The interim trust for Bridport Youth and Community Centre is hoping to raise £30,000 by the end of September.

The fundraising will go towards repairs and there will also be caretaking costs to be covered, as well as the salary of a co-ordinator.

Following the youth and community centre event, from 9am until 12pm, Bridport Town Council will support a rights respecting picnic at St Mary's School from 1pm. The picnic will include music and feature discussion about Bridport becoming a rights respecting town.

Both rights respecting and the future of the youth centre were discussed at a recent meeting of the Bridport Schools Youth Council and Saturdays events are an opportunity to find out more.