GONE are the days of a bus ride into Woodbridge for these youngsters to be able to have some fun.A new community centre on the Kyson estate is bringing residents together and giving youngsters the chance to make friends closer to home.

GONE are the days of a bus ride into Woodbridge for these youngsters to be able to have some fun.

A new community centre on the Kyson estate is bringing residents together and giving youngsters the chance to make friends closer to home.

After five years of campaigning and fundraising the Fred Reynolds Centre, named after the town councillor who put so much work into it, is finally up and running.

These youngsters are just a small part of the community who are reaping the benefits of the new centre.

As well as the Mother and Toddler group, there is also a Tai Chi group, coffee mornings, bingo evenings and a surgery for housing association Suffolk Heritage being planned so the centre can serve all age groups.

The Kyson Community Association got the Churchill Close centre underway because it was felt there was nothing to do on the estate.

With a major part of the population being made up of single parents and children something was desperately needed to bring the community together.

Now new life has been breathed into the area and residents are revelling in it.

Young mums on the estate often felt isolated but now they can meet up at the Mothers and Toddlers group.

Word of mouth is making sure that more and more people are coming along for each session.

Halie Harthill, 26 was at the centre for the first time with 15 month old Brad.

She said: "It is nice to have somewhere like this where everyone can get together.

"And if the weather is really bad you don't have far to go."

Sitting with her was Jessica Meek, 26 who was with her 18 month old son Deaglan – she has just moved to the area and was very impressed.

She said: "We are like a little village here now as there is everything you need like schools and the shop.

"It is much happier living round here now."