A COMMUNITY centre has been given a £40,000 windfall for maintenance.

Last year, Basildon Council agreed proposals to set aside £500,000 to give delapidated centres in the borough a makeover.

But it would only give the cash to centres that had signed up to a new community lease allowing the council to take a more handson approach to maintaining buildings.

Presidents Community Association has been given the cash for its community centre in Hoover Road, Laindon.

The cash will go towards future upkeep of the building, and is in addition to new security fencing being installed by the council.

Paula Brown, who runs Tick Tock Pre-School at Presidents, said: “It will not only benefit the pre-school, but the whole community as well. Parents are over the moon with the changes.”