The woman responsible for providing community services from the heart of Debden has spoken about a centre's closure.

On Saturday, June 23 the Restore Community Centre on The Broadway will shut its doors for the final time, six years after it opened in March 2012.

Backed by the same church that runs the Epping Forest Foodbank, the centre has welcomed in people from all walks of life - whether that is SEND people looking to socialise or doctoral students hoping to do some extra training.

It closes not because the district council has asked for more rent as rumoured, but because some of the centre's various grants have come to an end.

Judy Lovell, who runs the centre with one fellow paid member of staff and 30 volunteers, reflected on the work that had been done as a small group of Restore faithful chatted and drank tea on the shop floor.

She said: "We were set up with money from the church. We were meant to last three years, but we lasted six. We have also received grants from Loughton town council.

"The problem with these premises is they are not really fit for purpose.

"It is in a great location, but what we find is when we want to help people take that first step we have to contact the council to do courses.

"We would like to be more fit for purpose."

Once the shopfront is cleared away, Restore will not be disbanding but working out of other locations on a rolling basis, including Debden Library, Trinity Church and Oakwood Hill Community Centre.

It is from here that Restore's staff and volunteers will build community bridges, provide a safe public space to those who may otherwise not have one and run courses.

Previously these have included ones titled 'wrestling with anger' and 'dealing with stress'.

Ms Lovell added: "We have had to think outside the box in terms of keeping Restore going.

"Of course I will miss this place, but I hope we will have new opportunities and be able to meet new people."