Watford’s YMCA centre was praised by a senior Conservative politician yesterday for the “awesome” work it does in the local community.

Shadow international development secretary Andrew Mitchell visited the organisation, in Charter Place, to voice his party’s support for similar community projects all around the country.

Mr Mitchell, who enjoyed an afternoon tour of the building’s dining, sleeping and exercise facilities with development manager Ruth Ellis and head of housing Sue Kiddell, said: “It’s exciting for me to come and meet the brilliant people at the YMCA who are addressing issues of social need.

“It underlines the need we mention in our manifesto for a big society and not a big state – because the state can’t do everything.”

Mr Mitchell, who advocates stripping away levels of bureaucracy and helping charities more directly, added: “There is some awesome work going on here.

“We want to galvanise the brilliant voluntary and charitable non-governmental sector as part of our determination to mend Britain’s broken society.”