Thousands turned up to celebrate a “magical” community centre’s 50th birthday - a day many feared would never come.

Blazing sunshine shone over Maxwell Park, in Maxwell Road, Borehamwood, at a family fun day to celebrate the centre’s milestone anniversary yesterday.

But just two years ago, the future looked bleak for the well-loved site, after Hertfordshire County Council said it had “come to the end of its life”.

Campaigners took to the streets with a petition urging people to voice support for the centre, and in April this year council officials announced it would stay open for at least another year.

Yesterday’s fun day featured a bouncy castle, face painting and attractions such as “drench the wench” and a fishing game.

June Kempton, the centre’s secretary, said: “It was a fabulous day and amazing to see how many people turned out to support us. It was brilliant.

“I found it very overwhelming because thousands of people came. It was more than we could have ever dreamed of happening.

“Everyone seemed to have a great time and it shows people the centre is well-loved. It was absolutely fantastic.”

The event was opened by a church choir who sung hymns, and students from Hertswood Academy, Thrift Farm Lane, Borehamwood, also held a talent show at the end of the event.

Nicknamed The Lynx, the former social club was opened on August 12, 1963 and an old Borehamwood Post newspaper clipping shows 247 children eagerly waited in the queue to sign on.

The first girl to register on was Rita Cross, 16, of Croxdale Road, and the first boy was Stanborough Avenue resident Victor Morris, also 16.

Ted Treeves, the chairman of the Elstree Rural District Youth Council in 1963, said he was impressed with the “well-dressed, well-behaved lot of youngsters”.

Today, it holds clubs such as disabled music classes, dance lessons and drug support groups and hundreds were relieved at news it would not be closing at the end of the year as originally planned.

Officials are set to review the situation and an announcement about the future of the site will be made next year.

Town council Mayor Clive Butchins said: “It went very well and there was a good crowd around. I hope this is a good omen for the future of the centre.”