A YOUTH group is asking for letters of support from the community to back a new lottery bid.

Spirit of Youth, at Bolton Place, is used by Ulverston youngsters as a drop-in centre where they can meet, have a game of pool and discuss activities in which they would like to participate.

The group is desperate to extend its facilities as there is a major problem in Ulverston with youngsters having nowhere to go or things to do, so a bid to the National Lottery for £500,000 was submitted at the end of 1999.

The group wanted to buy the former Stollers building, on Cavendish Street, but the bid failed as lottery officials said they had not proved there was a need for such a facility in the town.

Local parents Maryvonne Dixon and Lesley Godwin, who set up the new Spirit of Youth office in Bolton Place in January, are determined to make sure a second bid later this year is successful.

The committee cannot disclose the location of the new building as it is currently in use but have made an appeal for letters of support from people in the town before the new bid is submitted later this year.

The bid to the community section of the National Lottery will be on a smaller scale than the one in 1999, as the building they want to purchase is smaller.

Secretary Mrs Dixon said: " This time we have to show that there is a need.

We can show all the bad things that go on in the town because youths have got nowhere to go or things to do but we also need to show a positive side, so we are looking for letters of support from members of the community.

" We already know there is a need as there is nothing for youngsters to do and they are hanging around the streets.

There are youth clubs for eight to 11-year-olds but nothing for teenagers and above.

"If our second bid is successful we will use the building as a drop in centre for youths as well as getting other agencies to work with youths in the town.

We will run various projects that they are interested in taking part in.

"We won't be putting the bid in until later in the year and it will be less than last time as the building is a little smaller but we can't disclose what building it is we want to buy as the present owner wants it that way."

Letters of support should be sent to Spirit of Youth, Bolton Place, King Street, Ulverston, LA12 7ED.