OKEHAMPTON Town Council has supported the Ockment Centre to the tune of £5,000 to help towards its running costs.

Manager of the centre Lindsey Svensson said without the town council grant and money provided by the Okehampton United Charities each year, there would be no centre.

The town council has contributed £5,000 for the last few years towards staffing costs and town mayor Mike Davies said it was important to preserve services and facilities in the town that were doing a brilliant job.

The Ockment Centre houses the Citizen's Advice Centre, the Job Centre twice a week plus offers training facilities and low cost meeting rooms.

'It is very much a community centre,' said Cllr Davies. 'People come here to get advice, support and information on a variety of things.

'It is very difficult for everyone at the moment to find the money to keep things going but as a town council we hope to try and find the funds in future years to support the Ockment Centre.'

The Ockment Centre pays rent to owner of the building Devon County Council.

Mrs Svensson said the centre ran at a deficit of £10,000 to £12,000 a year and for the past two years that deficit had been met by the Okehampton United Charities.