While hundreds of people fight to save a well-loved community centre from closing down, one 11-year-old girl took the fight to the very top.

Jodi Leclerc, of Monkswood Gardens, Borehamwood, wrote a letter to the Queen to ask her to intervene and stop the Maxwell Park Centre from being destroyed.

The centre is home to K’s School of Dance, of which Jodi is a member, as well as many other clubs.

But it could be destroyed under the Elstree Corridor Action Plan, meaning the groups that meet there would have to close for good.

Jodi, a pupil at Hertswood Academy, in Thrift Farm Lane, which is also due to be bulldozed and replaced with flats, decided to take matters into her own hands.

In her letter, she wrote: “Dear Queen Elizabeth. I am writing this letter to ask you to keep Maxwell Community Hall open.

“I go to a dance school named K’s School of Dance and if it gets knocked down, I will not be able to do the thing I love anymore.

“I have made a whole new family there and my mum has spent so much money on my competitions.

“Lots of activities – including karate, yoga, gymnastics and careers coffee mornings are held there.

“I will be delighted if there could be something sorted out to keep it open for longer, instead of building flats.

“I go to Hertswood School and my school is getting knocked down to build flats. More flats are not needed.

“Please reply your thoughts about this.”

Jodi was delighted when Sonia Bonici, the Queen’s senior correspondence officer at Buckingham Palace, replied.

She wrote: “Although the Queen cannot personally intervene, I am nevertheless forwarding your letter to Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council so that your approach to Her Majesty would be known and consideration be given to the points you raise.”

But the town council does not have any jurisdiction over what happens to the centre, which is a matter for Hertfordshire County Council.

Councillor Pat Strack, who represents Borehamwood Hillside ward on the town council, said: “This shows the strength of feeling for retention of this well-used, well-run community centre.

“It highlights why we as town residents must fight to ensure that this facility remains for our children and grandchildren.”