One of Little Horton's landmark buildings is being transformed by offenders who are putting something back into the community.

People serving community service orders are providing the muscle behind the revamp of the YMCA building in Little Horton Lane.

The huge Victorian building, which is Grade II-listed and has recently had a new roof, is being redecorated from top to bottom by the helpers.

And on Saturday and Sunday, from 10.30am to 2.30pm, a big jumble sale is being held at the building to clear out unwanted furniture and second hand clothes. Selling the goods will raise money to continue improvements and clear space for a new caf, drop-in place and charity shop.

Also at the building is a woodwork workshop where the offenders make bird tables and furniture.

And space is rented out to the Bradford Environmental Education Service (BEES) and the City Centre Project for young homeless people.

Steve Cornish, co-ordinator, who works with the offenders, has been seconded to the project from West Yorkshire Probation service.

"I'm hoping to generate as much revenue from our big sale as I can, so that we can finish the work to the building and get it open to the public," he said. "We will be selling wooden furniture and toys, bric a brac, charity shop clothing at 50p per item - everything must go."

He said the efforts of the people working on community service orders had done wonders to the building.

"We've had one bloke, an electrician, who's been able to check all our electrics," Mr Cornish said. "Other people have done a lot of painting, using paint which has been donated, and others have done work on the garden outside.

"A lot of them are people who are in work, and they are able to bring skills from their jobs. Some of the other lads have never even held a paintbrush before, but they are learning."

One man, who gave his name as Makaveli, said he was glad to be given the opportunity of working at the centre.

"I was in court for DSS fraud and if I wasn't here, I would probably be looking at six months in jail," he said.

Instead, he was ordered to do 200 hours community service. "Working here is all right - just painting is fairly easy," he added.