A COMMUNITY centre for disadvantaged groups which has been in the city for 26 years will close because a Roman Catholic order can no longer afford to keep it running.

St Michael Garicoits House will close in March next year after a generation as a centre for people with special needs and for the physically and mentally handicapped.

The centre on Greenhill, off London Road, Worcester, is owned and run by the Sacred Heart Order but they can no longer subsidise the project.

The planned closure has also been blamed on a drop in numbers on the management committee and a change in direction for the order, which is taking on more missions in the developing world.

Austin Hughes, head of English Province Sacred Heart Fathers & Brothers of Betharram, said: "People have asked us what we are going to do with Garicoits House when the project closes, and the answer is that we do not yet know. But among the possibilities is that it be used for our elderly and retired priests. We would like to place on record our thanks to the loyal band of committee members - some of whom have been with us since 1981 - and all the many helpers and supporters who have helped the project serve those in need."

Worcester Gateway Club, which has met at the house for the last five years, is one of 10 groups which has to find a new place to meet after the doors close on Sunday, March 30 next year.

All the groups were given a year's notice about the plans to give them as much time as possible to find somewhere else to go.

Eddie Curran, events organiser for the group, said: "We're quite anxious to find somewhere as soon as possible."

Club leader Carol Boughton, said the group was grateful to the order which had hired out the meeting place for just £6 an hour, half of what some community centres in Worcester charge.

She added: "Is there anybody out there who can help us? We only need a place for two hours a week. We have been given notice along with everyone else that they have to be out. We're hoping to find somewhere new. We will get around the problem somehow."

The club, which has been meeting for the last 18 years, is a charity supported entirely by donations and subscriptions.

The club has 21 members with a range of learning difficulties from Down's Syndrome to Asperger's Syndrome and leaders organise a range of activities, including crafts, quizzes karaoke, skittles, games and outings.

The group was also the drop-in centre for the Worcester Mind Group for 20 years.

Women's charity Asha has also met at the house for the past six years, teaching vulnerable women literacy, numeracy and confidence-building.

Clare Doughty, who teaches the literacy group, said: "There is an enormous shortage of affordable places which run small groups. It's quite stressful for some women to come into college."

The centre was initially managed by priests but is now run by administrators Paul and Alison Devine, who have lived at the house for the last 12 years with their three children.

They will also have to leave in March.

Mrs Devine said: "There's no panic and nothing will change right away. It's sad but not unexpected. It could not go on like this forever. We still have a fantastic relationship with all the groups."

The order which still runs the project was founded in 1835 by Basque saint Michael Garicoits and is now based at a friary in Solihull.