A youth centre forced to close last year has reopened four evenings a week.

Bruce Grove Youth Centre in Bruce Grove, Tottenham, largely shut at the end of March last year due to major funding cuts from central Government.

However, Haringey Council announced today that opening hours have been extended for certain community groups with plans to increase times further in the coming weeks.

Reopening the centre was one of this year’s 12 council priorities for Tottenham as consultation after the riots showed a huge support for restoring the centre.

The popular centre is now open between 3pm and 7.30pm every Tuesday, with sessions run by Highway Church Youth Club and Youth Café and Haringey Wrestling Club.

Every Wednesday between 6pm and 8pm, the centre will run a martial arts dance combat class, called Sanjuro, for people with special educational needs.

Aspire will use the hall every Thursday between 4pm and 7pm, which is a class for children in care. On Friday evening, the centre will be open for young carers in the borough.

However, work is ongoing to have the centre open from at least 4pm to 8pm every weekday evening, as well as a full programme of summer activities.

The centre is also opening ad-hoc sessions from YOS gardening project, Sanjuro music project and a Hackney University Technology College Open Day.

The youth centre, opened on Tuesday and Thursday evenings during last year’s school summer holidays.

Councillor Bernice Vanier, cabinet member for communities, said: “Young people have told us time and again how important the youth centre is to them and I’m delighted that we’ve found a way to make more regular use of the centre and its facilities.

“We made a pledge to improve youth services in the wake of the riots and we are proud to be delivering on that pledge.

“It was a hammer blow to be forced to reduce services at Bruce Grove and we now look forward to working with young people and community groups to ensure that we have a cutting edge youth centre which delivers what young people really want.”