THE YMCA day drop-in branch for homeless people celebrated its official opening on Wednesday.

Special guests included Gordon Campbell, the deputy director of the government's rough unit, Mayor Midge Broadley and Maureen Rhodes, founder of the Christian Kitchen which feeds and helps rough sleepers.

Mrs Rhodes is considered by staff members to be an inspiration to the centre, as well as one of its founding members.

Although the centre was open for use five months ago, volunteers and managers thought it was best to have it up and running for a while before its official launch.

Chris Kapnisis, Outreach day centre manager, explained that over the last five months the YMCA had been monitoring the number of users coming in and using the facilities at the branch in Meadow House, Forest Road, Walthamstow.

He found that a lot more people were using the branch than first expected, adding that the centre had plans to open at least five days a week in the near future.

Mr Kapnisis said: "We held an official opening because we wanted to give people an insight into what people do here, volunteers and its users. Our work here is very important and it benefits a lot of people."

Gordon Campbell, gave an opening speech to guests.

He said that the drop-in centre was an extremely valuable asset to the community and tied in with the government's target to reduce the number of rough sleepers as much as possible.

He also said that it was the government's immediate goal to take two-thirds of these people off the streets by March 2002.