A DUDLEY community centre which was forced to close after coming under attack by Sikh extremists has been re-opened with a celebratory party.

Over 300 people joined in the celebrations at the Wellington Road Community Centre on Saturday, which was officially reopened by Dudley Council’s chief executive, John Polychronakis.

The centre, which is opposite the Guru Nanak Singh Sabha Gurdwara, was closed in May last year after being heavily vandalised by a militant Sikh group who were protesting that the venue should not be serving meat and alcohol, wrongly believing it to be a place of worship linked to the temple.

Following a revamp and under new leadership with a new board of trustees, who are an independent charitable group not affiliated to any religious organisation, the community centre is now fully up and running for social functions and meetings.

Trustee Kulwant Sangha, said: “‘It was sad to see unwarranted violence force the centre to close last year. However, every cloud has a silver lining and a group of new trustees has been appointed over the last year to reopen the centre so that it can serve the purpose for which it was built and that is to be a venue for local communities to meet, learn and hold functions.”

Fellow trustee Jazz Kang, added “The centre is a great resource for the local community and we aim to work with all members of the local community, the council and our stakeholders to ensure that we make a success of this venue.”

For more information about the centre contact 01384 826080.