A YOUTH centre that hosted the frontman of Queen Freddie Mercury’s first live vocal performance 40 years ago faces an uncertain future after Warrington Borough Council pulled its funding.

Once a bustling venue, Penketh Youth Centre on Honiton Way is now a ghost ship waiting for youngsters to come back through the doors to use its sports hall, snooker and pool tables, table tennis, lounge areas and kitchen.

Penketh parish councillor Alin Dirir, chairman of the club, said: “All we need is the children but we can’t bring them in without the youth workers and we haven’t any money for them after the borough council took away the funding.

“It is here waiting for the children to use and it would be a solution to getting them off the street.”

The only revenue currently comes from sports groups renting the hall in the winter, car boot sales and proceeds from the Penketh Carnival.

Clr Linda Dirir (LAB - Penketh and Cuerdley) added: “When we had a Labour council there were two methods of support for the centre – they provided youth workers to work there twice a week and there was a maintenance grant of £3,000 a year.

“Now that’s gone we can’t even afford to let the sports clubs have the heating on when they play.

“We have a ready made youth centre that is abandoned. It is really sad because there is all sorts of funding available for children but no-one wants to give funding without regular youth activity and to do that we need the youth workers.”