COMMUNITY leaders were overjoyed after a century-old church received a £500,000 Lottery hand-out.

The 104-year-old Linacre Methodist Mission, in Litherland, can now press ahead with plans to transform its community centre.

The money will be used to increase the amount of community space on offer so the centre, in Linacre Road, can be more widely used by residents and organisations for conferences, exhibitions and community events.

The work will include creating two social enterprise spaces, which will house not-for profit businesses creating jobs in the community, a kitchen able to cater for more than 80 people, and new modern facilities, such as central heating and toilets, access for disabled people, a revamped games hall and refurbished meeting rooms.

The Linacre Mission has been used by the community since being built in 1905. It provides a home for groups ranging from Bible study to Brownies and toddlers groups.

It took volunteers two years of work to secure the funding from the National Lottery, which is the maximum they could have hoped for. Work will start in January and will cost £850,000, with the additional £350,000 raised by the community and charity grants.

Project manager Linda Wills said: “We cannot wait to see the centre when the work is completed.”