A youth club run entirely by parents is going from strength to strength as it enters its second year in a new home.

Theydon Youth provides somewhere for eight to 11-year-olds and 11 to 16-year-olds to meet at the Youth and Community Centre in Loughton Road, Theydon Bois.

The club is in its fourth year and has been based at the centre, which was bought from Essex County Council by the parish council and refurbished, for two years.

Thea Buisson, 41, who co-ordinates the running of the club, said: “We sometimes have up to 60 children attending our eight to 11 group, so it’s very, very popular.

“There are over 20 parents from Theydon Bois who help out, which is great.

“There are a lot of clubs that have had to shut over the past couple of years because their funding is cut, but we’re not reliant on that.”

Activities at the club include air hockey, television and trips away and parents have been raising money for equipment by holding fundraising events such as a recent Elvis-themed night.

Mrs Buisson said there were plans for children from the club to give elderly people lessons on computer skills such as sending and receiving emails and surfing the internet.

She added: “We’re finally up and running with wi-fi internet, which we got a grant for, which was fantastic.

“We’ve been able to purchase some computers, so we hope we can work with the parish council and get a youth and older people thing going.”

For information on getting involved in the youth club, email Theydonyouth@hotmail.com.