AN open day is being held at the newly refurbished Halton Carers’ Centre.

The building on Church Street, Runcorn now has full disabled access on the ground floor with new doors, new windows and improved signage.

There are private interview rooms, a therapy and podiatry room, meeting space and IT suite.

Members of the public can have a look around on Wednesday, May 4 from 10am to 4pm.

The centre now supports more than 5,000 young and adult unpaid carers.

Carers from Runcorn and Widnes look after relatives and friends with an illness, disability, frailty, mental health issue or substance or alcohol abuse problem.

A team of 13 staff, eight volunteers, a therapist and podiatrist offers information and advice, training courses, support groups, holistic therapies and signpost people to other services and help.

Runcorn Town Team awarded the centre a £6,928 commercial property renewal grant to cover 50 per cent towards the cost of external improvements to the building.

Staff now have their own kitchen and can hold meetings with external organisations.

A spokesman for Halton Carers’ Centre said: “We very much appreciate the funding provided as do other carers in Halton as it has enabled us to provide our services in an environment fit for purpose.”

The final phase includes plans to landscape the garden so carers can hold outdoor activities and have somewhere to relax.

A vegetable patch is in the pipeline with space for barbecues.

Carers can drop into the centre from Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and on Saturday from 10am to 1pm, call 01928 580182 or 0151 257 9673.