A CHARITY which supports adult education in Colchester is scaling down its operations in the town after 20 years.

Learning Never Stops, a charity set up when the Grey Friars hotel, in High Street, was still an adult college, hosted a special event to celebrate 100 years of education at the site and the centenary of the Government's Ministry of Reconstruction report on adult education.

Hundreds of residents flocked to an exhibition which was followed by an evening reception celebrating the success of adult learning in Colchester.

The event is a last hurrah of sorts for the charity which is winding down due to diminishing resources.

Alan Skinner, an ex principle at Grey Friars adult college and charity trustee, said: "I think the town has a very proud adult education legacy and I am horrified it has dwindled so much.

"Colchester no longer has its own specialist adult college and it only has a branch of the Essex County Council service.

"As a charity we are trying to persuade the borough council to open a learning shop in the town centre.

"I addressed the policy and initiatives panel and they put forward a recommendation to look into the idea to cabinet.

"I always say adult education spending is not a cost it is an investment and hopefully the council will see that."

The event at Greyfriars was attended by Colchester Mayor Nick Cope, High Steward Sir Bob Russell as well other other senior councillors.

A plaque was presented to the hotel to mark the milestone anniversary and documents, photos and artefacts were on display for the public to explore.

Learning Never Stops closed the event with a plea for attendees to join the fight for the survival of adult learning opportunities, stating it had done all it could over the last 20 years but was having to cut its services.

Mr Skinner said: "We have said we will continue to support the hotel in their Heritage Open Day events where I do tours of the site but it is our last big public event.

"We have done all we can to keep going for so long and we now hope the council might at least get an information service open."

To help, contact LearningNeverStops@btinternet.com or visit website www.ColchesterLearningTown.org.