A 20-YEAR dream came true for a Petersfield teacher on Friday when a new youth centre opened in the town.

The dream became possible after £125,000 was raised by the town's churches and individuals in the community.

On Friday more than 40 youngsters flocked to the King's Arms in the Festival Hall car park, which until recently housed the lampshade factory.

Now it has been completely refurbished with new ceilings and floors, freshly painted walls, pool tables, library, art room and computers in the cyber cafe.

The idea was born 20 years ago when teacher John Callaghan decided he wanted to organise a youth facility in the town.

He and United Reformed Church minister Peter Norris opened the Drop-In Centre at Winton House and around three years ago Bill Pearce from the Petersfield Christian Fellowship became involved as manager of the project.

"We ended up with too many youngsters at the drop-in," Mr Pearce told The Herald. "We knew we needed a building which was more out of the way, but still central to the town."

Eighteen months ago they were given the lease on the former lampshade factory and set about raising money and refurbishing the building.

Now the building is ready for use, the adults who spearheaded the project are ready to move over and make way for the youngsters to decide how they want to run it.

"We are keen for them to take the initiative and decide where to go from here," said Mr Pearce. "We hope they will become involved in the local community, tackle third world issues and generally get an agenda going."

The King's Arms will be open on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 pm for years seven and eight and on Fridays from 7 to 9 pm for years 9,10 and 11.

Organisers are hoping to start an after-school drop-in session every afternoon between 3 and 4 and a homework hour from 4 to 5.

A cyber cafe has been set up, but the Kings Arms needs another £6,000 to connect to the Internet.

Mr Pearce said a nursery would be using the building during the day and smaller rooms were available for organisations to hold meetings.

More than £120,000 has been raised locally for the King's Arms, with £80,000 coming from the local churches of PACT (Petersfield Area Churches Together). Grants have also been made by East Hampshire District Council and Petersfield Town Council.

"We have been absolutely amazed by the amount of money raised," said Mr Pearce. "When we set out we envisaged having to go to national trusts and the government for money, but we are completely staggered by the generosity of local people and continue to be so."

The King's Arms will be officially opened on October 20.

r Following an appeal for additional funding for the King's Arms, the congregation of St Peter's Church donated more than £10,000 to the scheme.

The vicar of Petersfield, Giles Harris-Evans, commented: "We wrote to all members of the congregation asking for their support for this very enterprising and much-needed project and they responded magnificently.

"In addition, the collections at a recent wedding and a funeral have been included. The church council has also agreed to include the King's Arms on its list of recipients for regular annual funding from the money raised by the parish."