A CASH-strapped Valleys community centre will close its doors later this year despite the best efforts of its trustees.

Coed Cae Community Centre in Nantyglo will shut to the public in August after additional funding could not be found to keep it open.

The four trustees of the 13-year-old building, built with European funding, said they feel unable to keep running the centre and are dissolving the charity.

The building is used by hundreds of people every week, and is home to a twice-weekly toddlers group, an under-11s play group and two girls football teams.

It faced closure last August, but was saved after Blaenau Gwent council paid an annual £7,000 grant early.

Treasurer Ellen Sims, 34, who also runs the girls' football team the Coed Cae Colts, said: "That gave us a little bit of breathing space. But we haven't been able to secure any additional funding.

"It costs £15,000 just to open the doors every year without considering overheads or staff costs.

"There are four of us volunteers on the board, and it's taking up a lot of our time. None of us want to see it close but we are finding it a struggle.

"There's funding available out there but we feel it needs a more professional approach.

"You need experience in being able to apply for this funding and run it as a business almost. We feel we are unable to do that."

Ideally the management group would like to find another charity to take over the building for community use rather than just close the doors and leave it empty.

Mrs Sims, a mother of three, added: "It's a building in really good condition in the middle of a housing estate, that could be of good use to another organisation."