The doors are open at the new £750,000 Golf Road Centre in north Deal, where visitors at the weekend had a chance to tour the building for the first time.

There was an opportunity to try out the Skylight Cafe, find out about art workshops, other events coming up and how to be a volunteer.

North Deal Community Partnership chairman Sue Beer said: "It has been a long time becoming a reality but the result is spectacular!

"The first proposal for a community centre in north Deal was made in 1999 and there have been four versions since then.

"Feed back from the open weekend was positive, with visitors delighted with high quality of the building and the wonderful feeling of the centre. We had no critical voices."

Now the Golf Road Centre, on part of the former gasworks and timber yard site, is open every week day between 9am and 6pm and from 11am until 3pm on Saturdays.

* For the full two-page story buy the East Kent Mercury, August 4.