A Truro residents’ association that revolves around “new beginnings” has not had a good start to the New Year.

The community centre run by the New Beginning Tenants and Residents’ Association for the people of Malabar has had to temporarily close because pipes froze in last week’s cold weather and then burst in several places.

Kelly Johnson, chair of the association, said: “We are devastated that we have had to close our doors to popular activities like the local youth club we host on a Thursday evening.

“We await the results of assessments on the pipes, but the damage is quite bad and we are all working hard to re-open the centre within a month. In the meantime, we hope that we can find suitable local venues for activities, like the bingo, while work is done to make the centre ready again.”

The Truro Children’s Centre has had to temporarily move their Malabar activities to Trelander and St Clements Community Hall.

Fraser McAlpine, vice-chair of the association, said: “Our small voluntary group keeps rising to these big challenges and overcoming them.”

He added that the association had its annual general meeting coming up and any volunteers that would like to get involved in the centre or the residents’ association would be welcomed.