THE £71,000 refurbishment scheme at St Anne's Orchard has been completed but a decision is yet to be made over the future of the day centre.

For the last 18 months Worcestershire Community and Mental Health NHS Trust has been discussing where and how to provide mental health services in Malvern.

The Malvern Link Grade II listed building, which has a dry rot problem, is likely to be kept open for the next two years. But the Trust has yet to decide whether to build a new facility or enter a partnership with the social services department and make use of existing buildings.

Trust spokesman Marion Smith said: "We are still considering the best option for long-term reprovision which will form part of the overall strategy for mental health development services in Worcestershire."

Kim Clarke, chairman of the Friends of St Anne's, which was set up in response to the threat of closure of the building, said the refurbishment has given St Anne's a new lease of life.

"It looks really lovely now," she said.

"They have killed the dry rot, repaired windows, done lots of painting and put a cheerful new carpet into the day room so it all looks very jolly now."

She added that through their own fundraising efforts - including the sale of bottled "St Anne's Orchard air" - they had raised about £650 to buy furniture and ornaments for the building.

"We built a patio, which looks fantastic, bought benches, tables, chairs, a wishing well and even some goldfish.

"But the main thing to come out of all our campaigning is that we feel in control of any changes that need to be made.

"Before, everything felt as though it was out of our control and we were never consulted about the future of the centre but now those worries have gone and because of that everyone is a lot more relaxed at St Anne's," she said.