A SOUTHAMPTON charity will close two of its city branches to extend hours at its city centre base.

No Limits is looking to open its new High Street drop-in centre from 10am to 5pm, six days a week - but needs to close its Shirley and Sholing centres to do so.

The branches will both close in December after the organisation, which helps vulnerable young people in the city, opened the new centre in August.

They say it offers a wide range of new facilities including rooms for training and counselling and a large kitchen for groups to learn how to cook.

The charity has held consultation on what it should offer in the future, and they say young people want to be able to access its drop-in centres more often and have the same opening times every day.

No Limits says closing the branches in Shirley Road and Portsmouth Road will allow it to open the new drop-in centre six days a week and offer some additional evening opening times.

It is also increasing its drive to increase the amount of advice it offers to youngsters through email, online and over the phone.

And it is also increasing the number of sessions it holds at schools and colleges in Southampton, with group work and counselling continuing to take place at its centre in The Avenue.

It currently employs two two centre managers, one of whom may be at risk of redundancy as a result of the changes, with consultation currently taking place.

Chief Executive Annabel Hodgson says: "It is exciting to have the opportunity to open our High Street drop-in all day Monday to Saturday and expand the online support that we offer.

"We believe these changes make it easier for children and young people to get information, support and advice when they need it."

Fundraising manager Hannah Stewart said: "To be able to open these hours we need to have the staff at the other centres working there.

"We think it will work better.

"Over the last few years we have expanded the work we do with colleges and schools so for people on the eastern side of the city they will still have access to us in the week.

"We know we have still got that service provision in the area."

Shirley councillor and city communities chief Satvir Kaur said: "I can understand the move but I just think it's a shame.

"If they can expand their outreach work then that would be good - they do an exceptional job and provide an excellent service to young people in the city."