Squatters have taken over a former Birmingham community centre to stage magic shows and help promote 'alternative energy' while the Church is trying to sell the building. Four 'artists' entered Centre 13 "autonomously" a fortnight ago and will be using it to exhibit their work and stage performances. The squatters claimed the building, in School Road, Moseley, had been left derelict for two years and was being "reclaimed for the community". However, Reverend Averyl Bradbrook, the vicar of St Mary's Church in Moseley, who is in the process of selling Centre 13, said it had been a well-used community facility but was closed last August after the groups which used it found alternative accommodation. Centre 13 opened in 1828 as the Moseley National School and became a youth centre in 1969. One of the quartet who have moved into the building is Steve Cumby, who described himself as a "plasterer and a magician". He said three of the four men - who include an artist and a writer - were previously homeless. "The building has been vacant for a very long time and we wanted to reclaim it for the community because there is nothing for people to do here," said Mr Cumby. "We are offering a service for the community because we are stopping vandals from wrecking the place." Mr Cumby said he would be performing two children's magic shows each day. He also also said the squatters, who have set up an art workshop, would be carrying out demonstrations on how to transform cooking oil into diesel. "This is a cheap and environmentally-friendly way of running a vehicle," he added. Visitors to the building will also be able to experiment with theatrical face painting. The squatters are expecting to have performances and poetry readings on most nights and have also contacted local bands who are interested in staging concerts. They are are also inviting the local community to become involved with "education beyond the curriculum" at the building and are staging an open day of events todaysat, which begins at 12pm. "We are squatters but we need somewhere to live," said Mr Cumby. "We are offering to pay rent for the place, but we are not sure how that is being received by the owner." Rev Bradbrook is currently in talks with a buyer. However the vicar refused to reveal who it was. She said Centre 13 closed last August after the groups which used it decided to relocate. "This is not a derelict building. We are actively trying to sort out the future of the site," said Rev Bradbrook. "I would urge the squatters to leave. If they wanted to acquire the site for this sort of use they should have approached us in the proper way, but they just moved in." Rev Bradbrook also said local heritage groups had not objected to proposals to demolish the building. Local councillor Martin Mullaney (Lib Dem Moseley and Kings Heath) said he visited the site yesterday(fri) to urge the squatters to keep it tidy. He added: "We do not want the building to become an eyesore so I am going to get an environmental officer down there to talk about rubbish with the squatters. "The squatters are also aware that it is important to not upset the local residents." | 
