A popular day service for people with learning difficulties has found a new lease of life and a new home.

Community Base was made homeless following a fire at Tang Hall Community Centre on November 23.

But the Barbican Centre has come to the rescue and the service will re-open there on January 2.

Community Base celebrated the news with a Christmas party at Layerthorpe Working Mens Club, attended by Gladiator Ace (Warren Furman), who is starring in the York Grand Opera House panto, Cinderella.

Until the blaze the service successfully integrated people into the use of community facilities and provided good opportunities for people with learning disabilities to be part of the local community.

Kerry Wright, service manager at the City of York Council's community services which helps to run Community Base, said: "As a temporary measure we were able to continue we were able to continue providing the service by utilising some space within one of our other small day service venues but the space at the Barbican is far more suitable. The fire was a terrible blow, but has not given us an opportunity which will enable the council's community and leisure service staff to work in closer liaison to ensure equal access for all to our recreational facilities.

"It wasn't the building that made Community Base a success - it was the positive, can-do attitude of the people within it and we will continue to strive towards even better facilities for the customers we serve."