By Gillian Ellison

Last updated 11:41, Thursday, 04 September 2008

FRIZINGTON’S Lingla Centre has been saved, thanks to its cook Anne-Marie Hodgson.

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Open again: The Lingla Centre cafe, Frizington

After eight years in operation, the centre’s Lottery funding ended.

Although a fight was put up to save the lifeline facility which provided a cafe and meals to housebound people, the committee was eventually left with little option other than for it to close.

But its closure only lasted for about five weeks before Anne-Marie, of Frizington, now living at Cleator Moor, decided to take it on.

The mother-of-two had been the cook there for three years and was sad to see it close.

So with determination she set about opening it as her own business and the community is delighted.

Vera Bell, 81, a volunteer at the centre since it opened in 2000, said she was delighted.

Married to Clive, Anne-Marie said: “I don’t think that everyone realised that it was going to shut, people thought that some money would come from somewhere.

“Some members of the board asked if I fancied taking it on so I decided I would, I love it here,” she said.

Anne-Marie is opening Tuesday to Friday from 11am until 2.30pm, as well as doing Sunday lunches and some evenings (next ones are September 18 and October 2).

Although Anne-Marie cannot commit to starting a full home delivery service again she is considering some kind of delivery service for elderly people in the future.