A CHARITY coffee shop controversially shut following the closure of Acomb Gables has been reopened - to the delight of the local community.

Age Concern and The Alzheimer's Society (AS) have teamed up with some of the original volunteers to make a fresh start for the popular facility in Oak Rise, Acomb.

The caf will initially only be open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10am and 3pm, but organisers hope this could be extended in the future.

The Friends of Acomb Gables were forced to close it before Christmas when the unit for the elderly it supported was shut down. The group raised almost £100,000 for the unit since they first opened its adjoining coffee shop in the late-1980s.

Age Concern spokeswoman Sally Hutchinson said they were approached by Selby and York Primary Care Trust to consider joining forces with the AS to bring it back to life.

"We're ensuring it's there for the people who used it previously," she said.

"If we made any profit we'd look to find someone to co-ordinate the volunteers. We're trying to do our bit through this partnership."

Sheila Harrison, of Dringhouses, who was the former chair of the Friends of Acomb Gables, said she was pleased to see the coffee shop reopened. When we ran it the coffee shop was an absolute godsend to a lot of people," she said.

"I wish them well."

Joan Marsden, 71, of Acomb, who ran the facility for many years, said: "It's good news for the people of Acomb even though it's only half of what it was.

"Something is better than nothing, but unless they put the same hard work in they won't make a profit."

Anyone wishing to volunteer at the coffee shop should phone Mrs Hutchinson on 01904 621020. The original coffee shop committee, which had 25 volunteers and operated the caf six days a week, funded medical equipment for the unit's elderly residents, along with their haircuts, flowers and treats like sweets.

Updated: 09:01 Monday, May 08, 2006