A TREASURED community centre which has connections to some of the biggest names in rock has launched an appeal to help fund a huge refurb.

St Bernadette's Social Centre in Selby Avenue has been a community hub for residents of Whitefield, Radcliffe and Prestwich since it first opened in 1961.

Over the decades the club has hosted countless parties, celebrations, concerts, fundraisers, shows, cabaret nights and gigs ­— including from Prestwich post-punk icons, The Fall.

In his youth, the venue was a regular hangout for frontman of Bury legends Elbow, Guy Garvey, and even served as the inspiration for their song ‘Open Arms’.

It is rumoured that the club may have also once hosted a performance from The Who.

However, age is now starting to tell on St Bernadette's and members are hoping to give it a much needed overhaul.

Dan Jones, a volunteer at St Bernadette's, told the Bury Times: "The Social Centre is extremely important, not just to the Parish and for the history that the place has got, but for the community as a whole.

"A lot of people have nostalgia with the place because of family dos, wedding parties, dance competitions and the groups who use the venue.

"These things still happen now. But the centre is starting to look a little tired and need modernising, and we want to bring it into the 21st century."

In recent months the venue has rebranded from a club to a Social Centre, while retaining its commitment to hosting a wide range of organisations, concerts, meetings and get-togethers.

Among the groups who call the centre home are model aeroplanes enthusiasts, belly dancing classes, a keep fit club, Brownies and Rainbows, choir practices, drama groups, The Blind Society, Irish and Ballroom dance classes, and even African drumming classes.

Mr Jones added: "With all this use parts of the building were getting a little tired looking so during lockdown a very small group of volunteers have tidied and painted, fitted new appliances into the kitchen and given the place a real make-over.

"However, the team want to go further and aim to raise enough money to renovate the centre bringing it bang up to date with much improved facilities that can be enjoyed by all the present users and reach out to an even wider community."

The centre is now hoping to raise £25,000, for new toilets, a revamped entrance and other restorations; and has launched a new campaign to help them hit their target.

Although the building remains closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the centre plans to hold online table top sales, quizzes, and outdoor events, such as car boot sales and sponsored walks; to generate the much needed cash.

The first event will be an online quiz on September 6 at 7pm.

Entry is £5 per household and entrants can sign up by donating to the centre's Gofundme page and emailing their team name.

For more details visit gofundme.com/f/st-bernadette039s-social-centre, or email stbernadettessocialcentre@whitefieldrc.co.uk.

St Bernadette's is also asking people to share their memories and any photos they have of the social club.