A CENTRE set up to transform some of Pontypool's most blig-hted communities is proving a real hit with residents.

The Trevethin, St Cadocs and Penygarn community centre was built at a cost of £350,000 as part of the National Assembly's Com-munities First project.

Organisers say its aim was to revamp three of Ponty-pool's wards. The centre opened in October on a three-month trial basis, attracting 30 members.

It held a number of adult education courses, including counselling and how to cut children's hair.

In the next few months it is hoped the centre will have a wider range of courses for people to study.

Organisers expect the centre to be fully manned and operational by February - in time for an official opening in March. Hywel Lewis, Communities First co-ordinator, said the centre is already a success.

"In some ways it has moved really fast, with lots of courses and learners, but in others it is quite slow, such as with staff," he said.

"But overall we have made good progress. "It's been very well received by the local community.

"The learners are enthusiastically taking up the courses and lots of people have commented on how nice the building looks."

A spate of break-ins and vandalism delayed the centre's opening. An attack last May cost £5,000.

But Mr Lewis said the mini crime wave failed to spoil regeneration plans. He said: "We were plagued by vandalism before we opened but since then we have had none.

"I think people are respecting the fact that they have this new building owned by them for their use."

Communities First works to harness people power at grassroots level and transform areas by focusing on key issues, like business, employment and youth facilities.

Trevethin, St Cadocs and Penygarn, along with Thornhill in Cwmbran, were the only wards in Torfaen to qualify for the 10-year-scheme.