Leader of Bassetlaw Council Mike Quigley officially opened the newly-refurbished HOPE for the Homeless building, which adjoins the existing emergency accommodation centre.

Guests from organisations across the district were invited to view the wide range of services on offer at the day centre, which has relocated from its former premises on Bridge Street.

HOPE manager Sandy Smith thanked the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) for backing the refurbishment project and said the opening marked an exciting time for the charity.

"A real advantage of being next to our emergency accommodation centre is that we can now provide a 24-hour, 365 days a year service for homeless people," she told the Guardian.

"We are absolutely delighted with the new building and know it's really going to benefit our clients."

Since starting out as a registered charity in 1996, HOPE has continued to flourish and expand and secured funding to open its day service drop-in centre on Bridge Street in 2000.

It provides an extensive range of services and aims to offer immediate relief to homeless people, as well as providing educational opportunities to help clients move on and succeed.

After purchasing the Queen's Street premises, the charity worked with the CRT to transform the dilapidated building in a long-term project worth over £100,000.

CRT manager Meg Hankinson said it was an honour to be involved in the scheme and said the building was barely recognisable from when she first visited it around 18 months ago.

The charity was set up in the late 1970s by former deputy prime minister John Prescott to help breathe new life into areas after the closure of the pits, and is now one of the largest regeneration organisations in the East Midlands.

"It was like stepping back in time," she said. "HOPE's chair of the trustees David Kinell and his colleagues have made some very brave decisions with this project but it has paid off, and really exciting times lie ahead," she said.

As well as luxurious dining room, kitchen and washing facilities, the new day centre also features a modern computer suite, training room with interactive facilities and enhanced security cameras.

It found great favour with Coun Quigley who said Bassetlaw Council had worked with HOPE for many years to tackle the problem of homelessness.

"I want to say well done to Sandy, her team and the trustees for all their hard work," he said. "It's a marvellous facility for the people of Bassetlaw, and it is a great achievement not only in terms of revenue but also the refurbishment."

Service users had the chance to view the facilities after the opening ceremony and will start using them officially later this week.

Sandy said the premises on Bridge Street would still be kept open and used for other purposes.

"We have the lease until 2010 and hope to use the building for a crisis centre," she said.