A community centre will undergo a transformation after being awarded £200,000 to provide better facilities for children and adult learners.

Bolton Woods Community Centre will use the money to fully refurbish its premises in Livingstone Road and build a new extension for a separate childcare room.

The building, which was opened in 1984, badly needs the extra space. Currently the playgroup and creche have to use the central hall - and anyone using any of the rooms has to walk through their activities.

The IT suite and the meeting rooms used by elderly groups are cramped and the kitchen needs modernising.

Many local groups use the centre representing all sectors of the community, including playgroup, youth clubs, adult learning courses and elderly luncheon groups.

Centre manager Tony Miller said: "The centre was not built for this type of volume of activity.

"As we have brought more workers in, those workers have brought in more activities and more users.

"This is our second and biggest refurbishment since we were set up."

He said the Bolton Woods area had a high percentage of children under four, and many parents were without family support.

"This is a service greatly needed for that reason alone," he said.

And play leader Suzanne Askham added: "We want to create a designated play area which is as safe as it possibly can be.

"A lot of people have said they would bring their children here if we had a separate room."

The extension will form a T-shape facing onto Livingstone Road using land currently occupied by playground equipment.

As part of the scheme, the IT suite and the cramped "quiet room" will be extended, store rooms will be altered and the kitchen facilities will be brought up to modern standards.

The extended IT suite means the centre can continue to provide courses on computers, basic skills and work skills which are run in conjunction with Shipley College.

The funding for the work has come through Government initiative Sure Start and means the centre can now expand into other areas.

These will include more healthcare facilities, including ante-natal classes, post-natal support, health visitor and paediatric nurse advice sessions and advice from a dietician and speech therapist.

Cathy Taylor, project worker for Parents into Work, said: "This is great news for the families of Bolton Woods and surrounding areas who are now able to access all-round support on their doorstep.

"The unit will go a long way in addressing the lack of good quality childcare in the Shipley East area, encouraging parents to take advantage of the childcare on offer and returning to adult education or employment by breaking the barrier faced by most parents."

Mr Miller said that the centre would probably close for the refurbishment at the end of July, and the work would take around six months.

"We have worked very hard for this and we are pleased that our lobbying and aspirations have been listened to," he said.

"Now we can get down to supplying first class learning and play activities for parents and children."