GENEROUS people across the city have donated thousands of pounds to support youngsters and families at a Cowley creative arts centre.

The Ark T Centre in Crowell Road launched an online appeal at the start of the month to raise £10,000.

It had until today to raise all the cash but residents pledged more than needed before the deadline.

Centre fundraiser Henrietta Gill said: “We are so pleased and so amazed by the generosity of our lovely friends.”

The online appeal came after an anonymous donor offered to give the centre £10,000 if residents helped raise a further £10,000.

Housing developer GreenSquare, which is currently working on transforming the former Barns Road community centre into 40 flats and community rooms, donated £500 to the cause.

The centre, which opened in 1997, needs between £110,000 and £120,000 each year to run services which includes its PlaySpace project and Broom Tree Cafe. It also features a recording studio which helps young people between 11 and 19 create and record their own songs.