Community groups are able to get back to what they love doing now that a town centre hub has reopened.

Bridport Youth and Community Centre is back up and running, welcoming a range of classes and groups.

The team at the centre has written to its hirers with the health and safety regulations required due to the coronavirus.

Centre manager Katrina Polanska said: “Helen Farmer, one of the trustees, and I have ensured we understood all the regulations for the use of the different rooms and the needs of our various groups, hires and the youth clubs. Implementing it all has been a challenge, but we rose to it and the centre is ready to welcome them.”

Among the first in was the boxing club, as well as Amazoness fitness class, which uses small trampolines, and the burlesque class that takes advantage of the large sports hall.

Heather Payne, who runs these groups, said: “The unexpected benefit of the Covid restrictions is increased overall cleanliness and ease of access to the sports hall. The class and I are delighted to be back.”

Other groups using the centre again include table tennis for the over 50s, Move it or Lose it, with the kickboxers set to come back and Bridport Young Performers hope to come back soon.

The board of trustees has gone over the Covid-19 regulations and used the Dorset Youth Association to get ready for the young people returning.

Kelvin Clayton, chairman of the board of trustees, praised the team and said he was very grateful for all the work that had gone into dealing safely with Covid-19 and making the centre available to the community.

The youth clubs - Swifts for the eight to 11-year-olds and Xtreme for 11 to 18-year-olds - will reopen in October.

Heather Marston, the centre’s youth manager, said: “It will be very good to see everyone again, we’ve missed them, and we are full of ideas for fun, safe activities for the youngsters.”