A HUGELY popular under-18s venue is celebrating its third birthday this weekend. Barcode Youth Cafe in South Parade, Weston, will mark the latest milestone with exciting events tomorrow (Fri) and Saturday.

A HUGELY popular under-18s venue is celebrating its third birthday this weekend.

Barcode Youth Cafe in South Parade, Weston, will mark the latest milestone with exciting events tomorrow (Fri) and Saturday.

The facility, set up by Weston Town Council, was the first of its kind nationally when it opened in October 2005.

Tomorrow (Fri), a neon rave disco will be held at the venue from 7pm and there will be a whole day of exciting events held on Saturday, including musical entertainment, demonstrations from kite specialist shop UFO and performances from cheerleaders.

Over the past three years Barcode has hosted visits from youth groups, other councils and police officers from across United Kingdom.

It now has an internet access space, with a library linked to others in the district and holds stop smoking workshops, career guidance sessions and sexual health workshops.

General manager Tessa Triffitt said: "Our primary aim is to give our young people a no-strings venue, in which they can feel at ease.

"Barcode is a pioneering venture brought about by people with vision who see that social provision for young people is not 'nice to have' but a necessity.

"The people of Weston should feel proud that their town was the first to develop such an important project.