A thriving Cockermouth church is looking for a large town building which can provide the community hub it hopes to create.

Kings Church has been in Cockermouth for about 35 years.

The 170-strong congregation meets weekly in the dining hall at Cockermouth School. 

The church also runs a weekly youth club at the school's Eco Centre, Alpha courses in its Station Street base, and a crack and cake drop-in.

Team leader Roger Bye said: "The school has been a great base for the past eight years and we really appreciate that.

"We want to do more things in the community though and be part of it. Having our own big building which was multi-functional would help.

"If anything big comes on the market we are interested. One or two places have come up, including the former Grand Theatre, but we have made no decisions yet."

The Station Street shop, which the church bought 20 years ago and has since outgrown, has been on the market since July.

He added: "There has been a lot of interest. Once we sell it we shall have more flexibility regarding looking for another base." 

It is planning to set up a money advice centre in January, for people in the community with financial difficulties.

There are also plans for parenting groups and Sunday lunches for older people.

All of the groups are open to everyone.

Paul Mogford, operations manager, said: "The crack and cake sessions on Wednesday mornings were a hang over from the 2009 floods when town churches provided them.

"We felt there was still a need for some folk to have a place to drop in." 

"The youth centre is held on Monday evenings for 11 to 16-year-olds. There are lots of games and also discussions.

Paul added: "This week they heard from someone who had been to Zambia.

Next week we have two refugees coming. We try and get people who will engage with the kids and involve them in issues they maybe hearing about in the news."

Ten members of the church have been trained by a national organisation to offer money advice. 

Paul said: "We want to help people in the community who have got themselves into financial difficulties, by offering advice and practical help. We want to help them become debt-free." 

The church is looking into setting up the Sunday lunches after Christmas. 

He said: "It's an extension of the crack and cake, giving older people in particular a kind of focus on Sunday afternoons."