City Church will open its doors to the community this weekend after taking over the empty Elim Church in North Road.

The Mayor of Preston, Cllr Trevor Hart, will cut the ribbon at 10.30am on Saturday February 23, welcoming City Church to its permanent home.

The church has been in Preston for more than 100 years, and has held meetings and services in snooker halls, over shops and at the PNE Invincibles Lounge.

But in October they took ownership of the empty Elim Church and started moving in.

Trustee Dean Hogarth said: “It is going really well. We have had to make sure all the fire alarms work and everything is in order for public liability but now we are up and running.”

The church holds a number of community groups and amenities, including food markets, a food bank and parent and toddler groups.

Upstairs in the building are sports facilities and there is a coffee shop on teh ground floor.

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On Saturday, visitors will have the chance to look around the church, and there will be a buffet, coffee and cake.

Dean said: “We are here to make a difference to the city, and we hope people will come along and see what we are all about.”

The church will be open to the public between 10.30am and 1pm.