Sam EmanuelPeople of all ages living near Norwich flocked to the colourful opening celebrations of a new state-of-the-art community centre yesterday.Sam Emanuel

People of all ages living near Norwich flocked to the colourful opening celebrations of a new state-of-the-art community centre yesterday.

The new �1.5m community facility on Longwater Recreation Ground in Costessey, which replaces a dilapidated sports pavilion, was officially opened by parish council chairman Bill Dinneen.

It will provide people living in the area with a much-needed community hall with four changing rooms with showers and toilets, a kitchen, a bar, offices and storage facilities.

Yesterday, dozens of families went to help celebrate the opening of the new facility at a summer fair, which opened with a flight of doves and then saw people entertained by fairground rides and local groups including the Costessey Warblers choir and Applejax Line Dancing.

The entertainment was followed by 500 balloons being released, a family disco and a spectacular firework display.

The facility also has a car park and revamped tennis courts, and will be used by community groups including dance groups, a day centre for older people, a wrestling group and Norfolk Army Cadet Corps.

In October, once the centre is up and running, the youth and community centre on Breckland Road, Costessey, will be sold. Costessey Parish Council is hoping that it will have outline planning permission for a housing complex on the site by that

time.

The council, which used to meet in the Parish Rooms on Townhouse Road, has also moved to the new building, and its previous base will be auctioned off at a later date.

Are you revamping an area of your community, or has your organisation benefitted from a major cash boost? Call reporter Sam Emanuel on 01603 772438 or email sam.emanuel@archant.co.uk.