An airport has given thousands of pounds towards the reopening of a youth centre.

Park Centre in Burgess Hill closed two years ago after West Sussex County Council designated it as a “community asset transfer opportunity”.

Now, a group made up of charities and others, backed by Burgess Town Council, is fighting to reopen the site as a youth and community centre under their new charitable incorporated organisation.

To support the reopening, Gatwick Airport has donated £9,900 from its foundation fund which will pay for a community development officer.

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Karen Taylor, chairwoman of Park Centre Burgess Hill, said: “It is fantastic news that we have been awarded these funds for our project. Being able to employ a community development officer will really drive us forward to work with organisations that will make Park Centre the central hub for local support.”

Melanie Wrightson, stakeholder engagement manager at Gatwick, said: “The community effort to turn Park Centre back into a youth centre for the benefit of Burgess Hill is an inspiration to us all.

“We are so excited to be able to provide funding for a community development officer as part of this important project and we look forward to the day when it reopens again."