The Prentice Centre ceased operation at the beginning of the month as bills piled up.

A community hub in Edinburgh has closed after the trust operating the centre announced all activities would end. 

The Prentice Centre in West Granton made the announcement, claiming that despite successful fundraising efforts, increased overheads mean the centre will have to close.

The decision, made at a meeting of the West Granton Community Trust Management Committee last month, comes after a review of the charity’s finances. 

In a statement, the centre said that the decision was “reached with great regret”, thanking those who have contributed to its work. 

The centre was deemed to be no longer viable after a significant funding shortfall was discovered for the current year. 

Management at the Prentice Centre said that it has proven impossible to raise money for core costs such as staffing and other bills for which charges have more than doubled in recent months.

Staff at the centre told the Edinburgh Evening News they were devastated at the loss of a vital community resource. 

Community Hub manager, Moira Fenning, told the newspaper: “All avenues for accessing alternative funding have been explored, but there is just no money out there.

“We deeply regret that we will no longer be able to serve the West Granton community in which we sit. We thank all our members for their support over the years.”

The closure comes after a successful funding battle following budget cuts from Edinburgh City Council in 2016.