A state-of-the-art youth centre has been granted planning permission.

Unitas, the £6 million facility developed by charity OnSide and Barnet Council, has received planning permission to begin building work in Montrose Playing Fields in Colindale.

The centre will offer activities such as dance, sport, music, mentoring programmes and employability training for young people aged eight to 19, or 25 for those with additional needs.

Unitas was named by a group of young people during a branding process for the youth zone.

Barnet Youth Zone chairman Keith Black said: "Gaining planning permission for Unitas really is exciting news for every single young person in Barnet.

Times Series: Cllr Reuben Thompstone and young person who has been working with Unitas, Zuzana FernandesCllr Reuben Thompstone and young person who has been working with Unitas, Zuzana Fernandes

"We can’t wait to start building this fantastic facility which will change lives by providing young people with somewhere safe and inspiring to spend their leisure time and giving them a great number of wonderful activities to take part in."

The youth zone will cost £1million per year to run, which will be raised by OnSide through local business support and donations, and work will begin later this year for an opening date in late 2018.