WORK has begun on a new state-of-the-art day centre for the elderly in the Dengie.

Knightswood Day Centre, which operates out of Steeple Road, in Southminster, is moving to a building in Asheldham Hall Farm, Hall Road, Asheldham.

The plan is to convert one of the farm buildings into a space suitable to continue the good work Knightswood carries out. The Steeple Road base has proven too expensive, and the move is vital to the day centre, viewed as a lifeline for many elderly residents facing loneliness.

Trustee Ken Thompson said: “We provide day care to those that are elderly and vulnerable, who have not only physical and mental disabilities, but for those that are just very lonely, in order that they all may continue to benefit living in their homes.

“This very important decision was purely to continue with this very valuable service to the local community in a sustainable and economic way.

“It is a consideration that if we do not move, the cost of operating out of here will go up and up and up. It probably costs upwards of £10,000 a year to keep running here.”

The board of trustees at the day centre hope to have the work completed during the summer.

Trustee Steve Sibley added: “We will keep all residents in the area informed of the completion date of this state-of-the-art day centre.

“As a charity we receive no formal funding and rely heavily on the number of clients attending the day centre as well as individual donations from time to time.

“As trustees we would like to ask the community to help support us in any way possible in this amazing project to provide day care to all residents that require day-to-day support in the local area.”