A COMMUNITY centre in Worcester which has re-opened after nine months of renovation is holding a special summer fair to celebrate its achievement.

The Rainbow Hill Baptist Church, now renamed the Rainbow Hill Centre, Rainbow Hill, has undergone major refurbishment to improve its facilities.

The Rev Kerry Birch, the church's minister, said it was a very exciting time and he hoped people would want to use the new hall, fully fitted kitchen and toilet facilities.

"As a church we are very pleased with it," he said.

"But we are trying to get the message across that what was a building site is now a fully functioning building. We want to attract community groups and similar sorts of things."

The summer fair, to be held this Saturday, will have a book stall, table top sale, face painting, plants, crafts from Nepal, tombola and refreshments.

Mr Birch hopes that people visiting the centre for the fete, which runs from 10.30am until noon, will spot its potential and want to start using it.

"With these facilities it is about being available for people and being part of the community," he added.

The main Victorian part of the building used to be a Sunday school and has over the years had extensions built on to it.

It became a church in the early 1990s.

The work, which cost about £100,000 started early last summer and finished this spring, with money raised through the Heart of England Baptist Association, charities and private donations.

Church services had to be moved to the nearby St Barnabas Church off Green Lane, Astwood while the work was being held and the mother and baby group also had to move.

But they are now both back at the centre - and Mr Birch hopes it will grow in numbers once people realise they are back.

Rainbow Tots meet on a Tuesday morning from 9.30am until 11.30am and on a Thursday afternoon from 1.30pm until 3.30pm. Parents with young children are welcome to join in the group to make new friends, listen to stories, sing songs and play.

From Monday, July 23, a Friendship group will be held monthly on Monday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm.

Age Concern Fit For The Future Classes will also be held for six weeks from the end of July. More details are available by calling Lyn on 01905 29301.

Mr Birch sid: "We are excited to be back in this building at the heart of our community. But really we see this as just the beginning - what matters now is that the Rainbow Hill Centre becomes a place that can be used by the whole community.

"We want to hear from our neighbours, and see together how the centre might be best used."