Consultants have been called in to rescue a second crisis-hit community centre.

Council chiefs stepped in to help Oxford's Blackbird Leys Community Centre, in Blackbird Leys Road, after claims of "financial and management irregularities".

The action comes less than a year after debts of more than £70,000 were uncovered at Donnington Bridge Community Centre, Townsend Square, Oxford.

Councillors this week were told the city council was alerted to problems at the Blackbird Leys centre after criticism of the way the community association and social club were run.

Consultants discovered a lack of financial planning, a drop in bar takings and falling membership.

A cash shortage meant the association could not go ahead with a planned refurbishment of the community centre building.

A report by council officers said there were "allegations of financial and management irregularities" and claimed day-to-day running of the social club gave "cause for concern". An action plan has now been agreed with the 750-member association to tackle the crisis, including increasing publicity and training volunteers.

Council staff will inspect bar receipts and financial records and take action on alleged wrong-doings.

Robert Evans, chairman of the city council's leisure committee, accepted the community centre needed help with its management - but denied it was in debt.

He said: "I am aware that the community association needs support with its management structure.

"Like any organisation that has volunteers, they need to be trained.

"Sometimes their willingness is not matched by their skill.

"We are trying to plan a strategy to help the community centre deliver a service for the whole community."

The 1960s-built community centre is one of 24 in Oxford owned by the city council and run by volunteers.

Cliff Hornblow, chairman of the community association, declined to comment until he had spoken to members.

He said: "I would not want to prejudice the community centre at all." Fergus Lapage, city council community recreation manager, added he could not comment on the extent of the "financial and management irregularity" at Blackbird Leys. But he said: "As far as I am aware, there are no serious financial problems at the Blackbird Leys community association."

Story date: Friday 29 January

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.