RESIDENTS are digging into their pockets to help transform a former Chinese restaurant into a new community hub.

The Round House on Walney has been empty for two years and is now set to become a community centre and beachside cafeteria.

To help things along, a resident advised members of the Zest Community Action Group, who are running the project, to seek support from the community to raise money for outdoor furniture.

This then instigated the creation of a gofundmepage that the community has already been keen to support.

Zest community engagement officer Matt Blackburn said: "A lot of work has been carried out in the past two weeks to transform the Round House into a much needed community facility on Biggar Bank.

"We have had lots of people asking to use the toilets and also to get changed to go swimming, which shows the need for the community hub is required.

"There is still a lot of work to do as the building is being rewired, the plumbing sorted out and painted from top to bottom.

"We also secured funding from Orsted to give the outside of the building a new lease of life too, and this work is also well under way.

"I would like to thank everyone who has so far made a donation for their help. The more money we can raise the more work we can do."

You can support the project by visiting their gofundme page at: www.gofundme.com/round-house-improvements

As of 1pm yesterday they had raised £360 of their £1,000 target.