MORE students are urgently needed to ensure that Bury's historic Arts and Crafts centre thrives into the next Millennium.

Huge council cuts means that the Broad Street centre must bring in as much public support and scholars as possible to pay its way.

The call comes despite a successful open day on Saturday (Sep 13) which saw enrolment numbers for the coming year top 1,000.

There are just two weeks left to enrol, and centre bosses are trying to persuade people to recognise the centre's importance as a local asset.

Mrs Georgina Weddell, who serves on the centre's management committee, said members were very concerned about the future of the building.

"We're in a very needy position because of the cuts, and we want to keep it in safe hands," she said.

"With all the upheavals, staff have disappeared and others are new to the job. There's also been a lack of finance to do more advertising and staff to promote enrolment."

Taking a look round at the open day was the Mayor of Bury, Coun Roy Walker, and his mayoress wife Kathryn. Everyone who viewed the range of activities on offer was serenaded by pianist Barry Evans.

The icing on the cake was welcoming the 1,000th person to sign up for a course. In celebration, staff gave a special cake to the lucky person, Mrs Doreen Gibson of Bramall Close, Unsworth.

Mrs Weddell said: "The day gave people the opportunity to enrol and to see the kind of work that goes on here. We had displays of painting, woodwork, dress making, creative writing and the people who went were thrilled."

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