A woman is bidding to breath fresh new life into an Oxford community by reopening a club which was once used by her grandparents.

Emma Buckett, 23, and her partner Andrew Patterson, 27, are planning to turn the Royal British Legion club, in Ulfgar Road, Wolvercote, into a community centre.

Miss Buckett said she had fond memories of spending time at the club with her grandmother when it used to be a community centre.

The local branch of the Royal British Legion has been based in Ulfgar Road for years.

However, dwindling numbers have meant the group is folding at the end of this month.

The couple said when they heard about the closure they offered to take on the lease of the vacant building and turn it into The Canal Club.

Miss Buckett said: "My dad's parents were born and bred in Wolvercote.

"When I heard the British Legion was not going to be based there anymore, I thought it would be so sad to see the building mothballed, so offered to try to create a community centre there.

"My dad loved coming to the club when he was a boy, and a lot of old family pictures are of places in and around Wolvercote. I want the club to be like it was in its heyday."

The plan is to completely redecorate and refurbish the building so it can be reopened as a club on Sunday, July 30.

The couple are hoping to create a play area for families and are applying for a Lottery grant to create a ramp for disabled access.

Mr Patterson, who plans to manage the club, said: "We just want it to be used by the whole community.

"We are hoping to put a pool team together and an Aunt Sally team.

"There will be a big function room where we can hopefully run all sorts of things for people living in the area.

"Our aim is to make it a focal point for the community of Wolvercote and far beyond.

"At the moment, there are not really any family-friendly places in the area.

"I think its unique selling point is the fact that it has an enclosed garden, which can be easily locked up, making it a very safe place for children to play."