AN ECO centre is getting ready to celebrate its tenth anniversary, with a little help from the Lord Mayor of York.

The Environment Centre at St Nicholas Fields had a visit from Coun John Galvin, as it gears up to celebrate a decade of action for sustainability.

Set up in May 2000 with National Lottery funding, the centre has become a hub for environmental action in the city.

The centre has expanded its community recycling schemes over the years, initially collecting from 150 households to more than 5,000, and with help from the Friends of St Nicholas Fields launched York Freecycle five years ago, which now has 17,000 members.

John Brierley, project co-ordinator with the Friends of St Nicholas Fields, said: “York Environment Centre was one of the first sustainably designed buildings in the UK and had has played a pioneering role in York and beyond. Over the last ten years it has become a thriving hub for environmental action.”

The birthday celebrations will be held on Saturday.

For details, phone 01904 411821 or at stnicksfields.org.uk