Devizes School is taking over the running of lunchtime youth club sessions from the beginning of November if enough students sign up for the project.

The school has stepped in to revive the popular lunchtime club after Wiltshire Council made cutbacks to youth services which led to Devizes Youth Centre closing and staff being made redundant.

Headteacher Malcolm Irons told students that the club for Year 11s will begin after half term but there will be a charge of £25 a year.

In a letter to parents he said: “As you probably know, due to the severe cut-backs in public expenditure, Wiltshire Council closed the Devizes Youth Centre and made all its staff redundant earlier this year.

“Traditionally, Devizes School has hired the Youth Centre (and its staff) for Year 11 students to enjoy the facilities at lunchtimes. This arrangement finished with the closure of the Youth Centre at the end of June.

“Over the summer we have been investigating the possibility of re-designing and reviving the lunchtime club for Year 11 students under new arrangements.”

He said the charge to students, which works out to 19p per session, would cover the cost of paying staff and hiring the club, which is now controlled by Devizes Leisure Centre.

There will be table tennis, pool and music available along with the chance to buy food and drink.

A taster session is due to be held today and the Year 11s will be asked what snacks they want to be on offer.

Mr Irons said that a minimum of 150 of the 200 Year 11 students would have to sign up for the youth club and pay the money in one go by October 15 for it to be viable.

But families with financial problems will be able to apply for a waiver or reduction of the fee.

He said: “We know the club has been very popular in the past and it seemed a big shame when it was closed. We have been working closely with the area board and the leisure centre to make this possible.”