YOUNGSTERS from one housing estate are about to celebrate the opening of a new drop-in centre.

The centre was the brainchild of local residents, worried about youngsters hang- ing around the streets and getting sucked into petty crime.

Old Farm Residents’ Association, in Erith, has set up the project in a former shop in Stelling Road and the group made sure young people were involved right from the beginning.

The shop is owned by Orbit (Bexley) Housing Association, which supports the venture, and the residents have been busy fundraising for the project, which has taken three years to get off the ground.

For the past two weeks youngsters have been busy painting the centre in preparation for its official opening tomorrow.

Young people will use the centre three nights a week, under the supervision of youth workers from Cribs (Christian Resources in Bexley Schools) and will decide upon their own programme of activities.

During the day, the community will be free to use it.