The campaign to save a facility described as "the heart of the community" in Brockley has been ramped up after a 17-year-old was killed on his way to the youth club.

Honor Oak Community Centre and the adjoining council run youth club on Turnham Road has been under threat since March 2014 when it was first earmarked for housing development.

Earlier this month Shaquan Fearon was walking to the youth club with a friend when he was killed in a knife fight near Spalding House.

Despite paramedics' best efforts the 17-year-old died in hospital, making him the second teenager to have been killed by knives in Lewisham in the last six months.

Two Lewisham teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged with his murder and will next appear in court on December 9.

News Shopper:

Brockley teen Shaquan Fearon was knifed to death near Spalding House.

Campaigners fighting to save the popular facility fear more youngsters could lose their lives if the youth centre is closed.

One of the four community centre trustees, Yvonne Peart, told News Shopper: "I just can't believe that they can take it away or even think about taking it away, it's almost unbelievable.

"It's been the heart of the community for a long, long time."

The 52-year-old said the area around Turnham Road now has a strong sense community, but there are fears that could diminish if the centre is scrapped.

Initially Lewisham Council planned to relocate the centre to enable redevelopment of the site, but under new plans some provision for community use has been offered.

But campaigners, who have secured just over 600 signatures in an online petition, say they haven't been given any reassurance that the provision will provide enough space for everything currently on offer at the centre.

News Shopper:

The campaigners fighting to save the Honor Oak Community Centre.

Ms Peart added: "We're fighting tooth and nail to try and keep the centre as it is.

"This area is already really built up, it doesn't need anymore housing. It needs more space and more activities for the young people to do."

A spokesman for the council said the Mayor will be considering the next step for the development in November.

He told News Shopper: "The Council is fully committed to the continued provision of a community and youth centre for the Honor Oak estate.

"We are looking at the potential to provide some additional and much needed social housing on the site of the current community centre, but any new development, should it go ahead, will have built into it replacement provision for the use of the local community and young people."

Click here to sign the petition.