ME sufferer Kim Haste, the former Melksham town councillor, was moved to tears when she made her first public appearance for more than a year to open Melksham's new youth caf.

Mrs Haste, 40, made the brave step back into the limelight on Saturday, when she officially opened the Market Place facility.

Sited on the former fire station, next to the town hall, the youth caf will open three evenings a week to provide teenagers in the town with a place to meet up.

Mother-of-two Mrs Haste, said Melksham Youth Committee chairman Mel Elms left her feeling emotional with a moving speech.

Mrs Haste said: "I was very touched by what Mel said. She phoned the night before and I said I didn't feel too good but she begged me to go.

"I was just delighted to attend and be part of it. I have not seen the building for more than a year. Back then it was a bit ramshackle."

Mrs Haste was an active member in the youth caf project during her time on the council until she resigned in May through ill health.

Melksham mayor Vic Oakman said he was thrilled with the opening ceremony turnout and hoped the young people would use the facility.

He said: "It will be somewhere they can hang out. There is a pool table, somewhere to make tea and coffee and a sofa.

"They spent a long time fundraising and it was a long time coming but I am glad it has opened."

Members of the Melksham Youth Committee are celebrating a double success after being awarded a £13,000 grant from youth project Connections.

They will install a computer suite with the money.