A COMMUNITY facility could be forced to temporarily close if enough money cannot be found to install a new fire alarm system.

Following a fire safety inspection at the YMCA in Marson Road last month, staff at the organisation were told they have until the end of August to buy and install an alarm.

If this is not done, the building will have to shut until the work is complete.

The YMCA runs sport sessions, including boxing, football and basketball, for youngsters in Clevedon, as well as putting on soup and roll lunches every Monday and hosting a group dedicated to working with adults with learning difficulties.

It also runs valued youth sessions every Friday evening, helping to reduce nuisance behaviour in Clevedon’s town centre.

If the alarm system is not fitted by the set deadline, all of these sessions will have to be cancelled.

Youth worker Lorna Robinson said: “If we have to close, it will affect everybody.

“As well as carrying out our own fundraising, we are looking for any people that could make a donation.”

To pay for the alarm installation, the YMCA needs to raise more than �2,000 and has began applying for funding from a range of organisations.

Letters have also been sent to businesses in Clevedon asking for donations and the group will also hold a fundraising stall at the Clevedon Pride fair in Queens Square on Saturday.

Anyone else wishing to make a donation to the YMCA can also call the office on 01275 878405.

* The YMCA is in need of more volunteers to help run youth sessions at the facility. Y Fridays normally see up to 40 youngsters coming through the doors in one evening but there are only 14 volunteers available to help run the sessions. Anyone interested in volunteering should call the office.