MEMBERS of a West Devon youth club bade farewell to a building that that has housed them for nearly nine years, as it was ripped down last week.

The Tavistock Youth Café base in Pixon Lane, Tavistock was torn down after no longer being fit for purpose, leaving the youth café without a home and out of pocket after having to fund the demolition.

The youth café's board of directors reluctantly took the decision to demolish the dilapidated building after it became clear there was no alternative, and now the youth café is busy trying to find a new base.

The youth café has had to fund the £5,000 it cost to demolish the site and take the rubble away.

The work was carried out by Tavistock building firm RM Builders and Contractors which gave the youth café the best price it was able to.

Tavistock Youth Café manager Vicki Lloyd said it was very sad to see the building go: 'It is not so much that we are losing a building, the sad thing is that we haven't got one to replace it.

'Since 2005 it has served a lot of youngsters through their teenage years — some are still involved.

'It will be a big loss to the people who were coming here and to the people who could have come here and made use of it.

'We are determined that we will get funding to get a new location.'

Mandy Ewings, chair of Tavistock Youth Café board of directors, was also saddened to see the demolition of the building.

She said: 'It's an emotional time and its horrible to see it go.

'We feel really sad that nothing could be sorted out, although we knew the building had to go. We knew the building wasn't fit for purpose and realised just how sad and tired it looked.

'Now we would just like somebody to house us.'

The youth café has been offered the use of the Young Devon building just down the road from the café's former base, when the service moves out in the near future and the building has been refurbished.

But to secure the building, the youth café would have to come up with at least two years rent in advance and add onto that the running costs and employees wages, which would work out to just over £30,000 — money which the youth café doesn't have.

'We just haven't got the revenue to move into the Young Devon building,' said Mrs Ewings,

'It would be a suitable place but we would need to find the finances to keep it going. We've got to start finding some money.'

Mrs Ewings said there was some time to try to find a solution, as she believed the building would not be sold just yet.

Meanwhile, she said Vicki Lloyd was busy spending all her time applying for grants and continuing to do outreach work with the youngsters.

Although without a fixed base, the youth café is still running, with the Zephyr Music Project operating from the Tavistock Community Football Club on Thursday evenings from 6pm to 8.30pm, and a 'Zephyr Live' band night at Tavistock Town Hall on December 22, hosted by '3s A Crowd' and featuring performances from 'Jessica and the Rabbits' and 'Your New Favourite Band.'

Doors open at 6.30pm, and there will be a fully licensed bar. Tickets are £7 or two for £12 available on the door.

The youth café will be holding a raffle on the night and is currently looking for prizes. Any donations would be appreciated.

Anyone who may be able to offer financial help, building use or raffle prizes to the youth cafe can contact Vicki on [email protected]">[email protected]