A crisis-hit community centre is set to make a fresh start - and could be back in business by next month.

But only 40 residents turned up to a meeting to discuss the relaunch, despite a leaflet campaign targeting 1,600 people.

Residents began efforts to get Donnington Community Centre up and running again at a meeting for the community last night.

An investigation into the centre by Oxford City Council's monitoring officer uncovered financial turmoil and failed council monitoring.

It also detailed a series of loans to the centre, from the council and two breweries since 1987 and a failure to provide properly audited accounts for two years.

The total debt is now £71,094.

As a result of its financial situation, the centre's bar was advised to close by the city council to protect volunteers from becoming liable for the debt.

The building now opens to only a handful of user-groups each week and has stopped operating as a social centre for the community.

At last night's meeting, a reformed committee made up of 14 people was established to oversee the relaunch.

This included two publicity officers appointed with the aim of encouraging more people to use the centre. Cllr Bill Baker, who was appointed as chairman of the new committee, said he was 'impressed' with the turnout.

He told the meeting: "There's been so many misleading stories in the paper. When people were told about £60,000 to £70,000 debts, you have to realise that £50,000 was a loan to buy this building. I realise it's not going to open next week, but we're coming up to winter and people want somewhere to go. I would like to see this place opened at the very least by the end of August."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.