Plans to launch Saturday evening sessions at Abingdon's main youth centre have moved closer thanks to council cash.

The Vale of White Horse District Council and Abingdon Town Council have promised financial backing for the £15,000 project at the Net, in Stratton Way, and hopes are high that Oxfordshire County Council will also support it.

The district council has agreed a grant of £4,500 and the town council has offered £3,600. A decision is expected later this month from the county council.

The Net wants to buy equipment to run a cinema once a week at a subsidised rate, buy new games equipment and make improvements to the decor and furniture.

The plans for events on Saturday evenings was drawn up following a meeting of COG Community Old Gaol a pressure group set up last year after the collapse of plans to turn the redundant Old Gaol building into an arts centre with a library, museum, cinema and theatre.

Young people said more activities were needed in the town and Labour Party activist Les Clyne contacted the Net. He raised the issue with the district council but was told to seek help from the county council's youth service and the district's Abingdon area committee.

Vale and town Conservative councillor Monica Lovatt helped win all-party support for the grants. She said: "I'm delighted the two councils have come together to support this valuable project. It looks as if the county council will also back it, so it's good to see a three-way partnership supporting young people."

Louise Chapman, the county council cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: "I fully support the Net. Over the next three years the county has committed £600,000 to these sort of projects."