IN a dramatic U-turn, Northumberland County Council has reversed its decision to sell Prudhoe’s beloved youth centre – just days after it was put on the market.

Youngsters in the town were celebrating this week after their campaign to save the East Centre proved successful.

Last week’s news that youth services were to be relocated from the 52-year-old Front Street centre to the Fuse Media Centre on Moor Road shook Prudhoe.

Signs advertising the sale of the East Centre appeared overnight, and even staff at the centre were unaware of the sudden decision to dispose of the building.

The town's teens took action, mounting a campaign to Save Prudhoe's East Centre.

And in the wake of fierce opposition, county councillors for Prudhoe, Coun. Eileen Burt and Coun. Tony Reid, asked council leader Coun. Grant Davey to reconsider the move.

Coun. Davey said: “I have decided to halt this change following an appeal by our members in Prudhoe.

“Retaining the East Centre as a youth facility may require some additional help from Prudhoe Town Council, over and above its current, very generous grant.”

Northumberland County Council said the youth service would continue to be run from the East Centre.

15-year-old Brooke Salloway, who helped launch the campaign, said: "I think the reaction was a big surprise to the council, I know it's a youth centre but there's a lot more goes on there than people realise."

The county council said that the decision was part of a county-wide review of its assets.

A spokesperson said: “The decision was taken by the council to retain the Fuse Centre in Prudhoe as a modern training facility and to relocate adult Llearning provision from the East Centre into this much more modern building.

“At the same time, it was proposed by officers that the youth service could also be based in the Fuse Centre, allowing the East Centre to be vacated and marketed.”

Coun. Reid said neither he nor Coun. Burt was aware of the decision, but welcomed the intervention from Coun. Davey.

He said: “Councils are having to make really difficult decisions in a tight timetable.

“I don’t think people at the county council realised the complexity of the funding arrangement at the East Centre.

“Prudhoe Town Council and Prudhoe Youth Charity Shop both contribute funding, as well as the county council.

“If you’re going to support a facility for decades and suddenly someone proposes to close it, it’s bound to get your back up.

“It is the best youth centre in Northumberland, primarily because of its unique funding and support.

“I welcome the decision to reconsider this decision, and think it is important that the local community is involved in the East Centre going forward.”