TIMPERLEY will be boosted by a new, state of the art community facility when the Larkhill Centre opens on Saturday.

The National Lottery funded centre has been built from scratch following the demolition of the Red Cross Hut, which had served the area for nearly 50 years.

The opening marks the end of a three year struggle to develop new facilities in the town. Work from the Larkhill Community Centre Association has secured the £450,000 amenity.

The members of the association got together to bid for the lottery funding, and then oversaw the construction of the new building.

They believe the multi-purpose centre will benefit people of all ages in the community - and they want to hear from groups who would like to use it.

The committee secretary Sue O'Mahony said she was thrilled at the completion of the building.

She said: "It's such a beautiful building, and it's been such a long time in coming. It's quite a striking design - it's very modern, and the interior is super.

"It will provide a focus for all manner of activities. We just hope it will prove to be as great a pleasure to the people of Timperley as it has been for us to get it built."

Future users of the centre, which can hold 200 people in its hall, are excited about its potential. Christine Ricketts, chairman of Timperley Childminders' Group, said: "The new centre is well designed in terms of space and security, so essential to the sort of work our organisation is involved with."

And George Lyon of the Over 60s Club said: "We shall always have fond memories of the good times in the Red Cross Hut, but we look forward to many more in this splendid new building."

The opening ceremony will be performed by Viscount Ashbrook of Arley Hall. His mother, Lady Ashbrook, the Cheshire county president of the Red Cross at the time, opened the Red Cross Hut in October 1950.

Any clubs, associations or individuals interested in booking the centre should call the lettings officer, Duncan Massey, on 903 9161.