By VICTORIALEGGETTvictoria.leggett@aol.comA planned new support centre for the over-50s has been hit by recent storm floods.For the Sheringham-based project's joy at winning a £9,000 lottery grant has been diluted by the need to find a new base.

By VICTORIALEGGETT

victoria.leggett@aol.com

A planned new support centre for the over-50s has been hit by recent storm floods.

For the Sheringham-based project's joy at winning a £9,000 lottery grant has been diluted by the need to find a new base.

Age Concern North Norfolk was one of 49 groups in the East of England to receive money from lottery grants programme Awards for All.

It received £9,940 and planned to use the money to set up a café-style information centre at its site on Station Road, Sheringham.

The shop, drop-in centre and café will give people a chance to discuss their problems with fellow over-50s and collect information which may help them.

But when the town was hit by torrential rain last month the charity's workers found the building flooded and raw sewage in some rooms.

Lyn Battrick, Age Concern North Norfolk's general manager, said: “The building was completely flooded out. That's happened twice in the last two years. The staff were wading in barefoot trying to rescue papers and files.”

While the charity refuses to let the setback scupper its plans completely, Ms Battrick said it could not risk the same thing happening to the new centre and will have to search for a new site.

Age Concern had hoped to use the entire grant to buy equipment for the centre, including coffee tables, computers and desks, but now some of the money will have to be used to rent the new premises.

Ms Battrick said: “It's frustrating. We really do need to find somewhere else. We have to lease the premises so some of the money will have to go towards that.”

The group is now searching for a new building and anyone who can suggest a suitable site or offer money should contact Age Concern North Norfolk on 01263 823126.

Coltishall Primary School also received a cut of the £324,000 lottery funding. Headteacher Mark Adamson said the school would use its £5,000 grant to fund a course teaching parents how to help their children while they are at school.

The free course will tell parents about different learning styles so they can support and motivate their children.

There will be two 10-week courses, one beginning on Tuesday and another after Christmas, and up to 15 parents will be able to take part each time.