A FRIENDS group is being set up to run the Ivy Lane youth club in Dartmouth.

Dartmouth Town Council has this week been handed the keys of the building in what is believed to be the first transfer of youth facilities by Devon County Council.

Maintaining youth provision in the town is a priority for the town council but it is hope the building will also be adapted for wider community use.

Speaking at this month's meeting of the town council, county councillor Jonathan Hawkins thanked everyone for their hard work and dedication in securing the hand over of the building.

'The youth of the town are very important to us and now this is where the work really starts,' he said. 'We want to ensure that youth provision prospers for the future.'

Cllr Dave Cawley asked what had happened to recording studio equipment, including a synthesiser and drum kit that he believed had been removed from the building.

'I had high hopes that it might motivate a few young people of Dartmouth and the music festival had expressed an interest too,' he said earlier.

Cllr Hawkins said the drum kit was being returned to Dartmouth but the recording studio had been bought eight years ago for use countywide and was now in Newton Abbot. He added: 'I am told it is in pretty poor condition and am sure we can raise money to replace it with better equipment.'

Some funding from the county council may also be made available for the project, the meeting was told.

An application is also being made for a grant towards transport costs to try to bus youngsters into the youth centre from outlying villages.

Meanwhile, the Friends of Ivy Lane will be working to get the building back on its feet.

Dartmouth and District Food Bank will be one of those organisations to benefit. Treasurer Liz Mills said: 'Our cooking club and the food bank will now have a permanent home right in the centre of town. How good is that.'

Mrs Mills also thanked all the schools and churches which had donated fresh food and tinned produce from harvest festivals.

'We cannot over emphasise how important these gifts are to the food bank, particularly with the cooler months now approaching,' she said.

'Food parcels given to our clients continue to rise each week and we have seen an increase in the number of people wishing to attend the community cooking club on a Wednes­day evening.'