A YEAR after youngsters first rushed through the doors of Watton's new youth club, the project is going from strength to strength.

A YEAR after youngsters first rushed through the doors of Watton's new youth club, the project is going from strength to strength.

On Wednesday members of Project Rainbow, the group behind the youth initiative, and local dignitaries came together at The Surge in St Giles Road to celebrate a year of success.

As well as a chance to see how the drop-in centre has progressed over the last 12 months Project Rainbow was also presented with a �10,000 cheque from Watton Town Council - the second tranche of a cash sum promised last year.

Paul Adcock from Project Rainbow, said: 'We are pleased with the way the first year has gone. It has developed nicely.

'Progress has been steady and we have now got a really good and conscientious group of volunteers.

'We have also now got to the stage where the majority of the activity rooms are now open.'

The Surge, which stated off with just a games room and lounge area last December, now also boasts a pamper room, music room, karaoke and DJ room and art room.

Work is also currently in progress on a new room, nicknamed the engine room, where youngsters will be able to pull apart and reassemble a car engine.

While it currently opens on Monday and Thursday evenings and welcomes 11 to 18-year-olds, Mr Adcock said there was in increasing hope The Surge could open on another evening for just 11 to 14-year-olds.

'It is developing well and there is a good range of activities,' continued Mr Adcock.

'Typically we get between 20 and 40 people every evening.'

Though Project Rainbow currently rents The Surge from developers it hopes that it will soon be in a position to buy it, thus securing its future.

It also hopes to attract more adults interested in acting as youth leaders.