A COMMUNITY centre has been given a £70,000 makeover thanks to ITV's Jeremy Kyle Show.

The UEW - United Estates of Wythenshawe - centre in Benchill was treated to a five-day renovation.

Hundreds of local residents enjoyed an opening party as the controversial daytime TV presenter cut the ribbon on the centre, which now has a new kitchen, café, dance studio and garden with an outdoor play area.

The makeover challenge will feature on a special edition of the show, which is filmed at Granada studios, and was completed thanks to donations from local and national firms and hands-on efforts from the community.

UEW centre founder Greg Davis said: "This provides a credible alternative to what goes on in any inner city area.

"This shows what the community can do and what they take pride in. It was in desperate need of a makeover.

"We couldn't have done this without the show."

Facilities

The centre is run by and staffed by local people and also has a gym and beauty facilities. Tory leader David Cameron hailed it as a positive example of what communities could achieve for themselves when he visited the area last year.

Rachel Edwards, 20, has been using dance facilities there for five years. She said: "I come every week and wouldn't have had this opportunity otherwise. The kids who use this would be hanging around the streets if they couldn't come here. It looks gorgeous."

The Jeremy Kyle Show came in for criticism last year when a Manchester judge labelled it `human bear-baiting' when he dealt with the case of David Staniforth, who head-butted his wife's lover in front of the studio audience.

In February, there was further controversy for the show when a jealous husband was jailed for holding a loaded gun to his wife's head after finding out on the programme that he was not the father of her baby.

Kyle defended the show this weekend and said: "If you tackle things head-on as we try to do, you will not always say or show everything people agree with.

"I would much prefer if people were able to understand the work we do after the show and the success stories we've had.

"This project is a great example of how we can help 100 kids rather than just one who comes on the show.

"Everyone's mucked in and I'm really proud of what we've done here."

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