YOUTH club and “state-of-the-art community theatre” could be created in Southend high street if a £250,000 expansion goes ahead.

The IronWorks has launched a fundraiser to create the theatre, with performance space, rehearsal rooms, extra exhibition space and an area to host a “City Centre Youth Club.”

To do this the centre needs to install a lift and an additional stairwell.

Announcing the fundraiser, organisers said: “We are thrilled with what we have all achieved as a community with phase one of The IronWorks Southend.

“Together we have created a safe, accessible space for everyone to come together to socialise, experience new skills, trade, have a platform to do pretty much anything people want, learn, and most importantly enjoy.

“Whilst the ground floor of the unit is fantastic - it’s busy and bustling - we need to open up the other four floors in this magnificent building to not only take this project to the next level but open up vital income streams to truly make The Ironworks sustainable.”

The venue opened at 90 High Street - the old Morrisons minisupermarket – last summer.

It is run as a “multi-functional” centre rented out to businesses, community groups and arts companies for a minimum of three months.

Aston Line, Labour councillor for Westborough ward, attended a “Full Monty” fundraiser at the centre.

He said: “This magnificent venue is a valuable community asset which offers great opportunities for artists and small businesses to exhibit, perform and trade.

“In order to fully utilise this piece of Southend history, they are looking to raise money so that they can recommission the building’s lift, and build a new stairwell which meets modern commercial standards. This would enable them to construct a community theatre on the first floor and become home to a new city centre youth club, which Southend desperately needs.”

Daniel Nelson, cabinet member for economic growth & investment, said: “The IronWorks Southend has been a great success and a big boost to the High Street, encouraging more people to visit our city centre.

“As well as providing a café and hosting a range of community events, the venue has also helped many people to socialise and experience new skills in a safe and welcoming environment.

“It’s exciting to see that plans are underway for a community theatre including exhibition space to help the venue continue to grow because the IronWorks is a venue for the community and I encourage everyone to visit their gofundme page and help support their plans.”

To support the fundraiser go to gofund.me/a1292fe8