CELEBRATIONS began today following the completion of a new £900,000 community centre in Worcester.

Twelve years of waiting by residents came to an end as keys to the as-yet-unnamed centre were handed over this morning.

The city council funded building, between Stanley Road and Midland Road, off Wyld's Lane, features a 1,700sq ft hall and 400sq ft youth venue plus meeting rooms, toddlers' play area and "kickabout" zone.

"It's lovely, fantastic. It's just what we needed because there is nowhere nearby for the children," said Carol Hodgetts, a foster carer and childminder from Foxwell Street, off London Road.

"I've been waiting for it because I've been taking the two children who live with me to the play schemes at Warndon whereas we will have easy access to this."

A centre was first mooted in 1993 but has only just been built, after work started in May, following problems in finding the right site.

Groups that made use of a smaller hall on the plot will move into the centre but new sessions, such as yoga classes, are set to be added.

"It is an important building and is going to make a tremendous difference to the community," said Sandra Kennedy, from Horizon, the charity that will manage the centre.

"It's going to get people more involved. There is nowhere to go to meet up except in houses so it will become a meeting point for the community.

"Religious and ethnic background is not important here. Our aim is to serve the community as a whole, and local people who have followed the scheme's progress since its inception are very excited about the prospect."

"For a time there was a feeling that the centre may never happen, but now it's a reality," added Mayor of Worcester, Coun Allah Ditta, whose city council Cathedral ward includes the site.

"It's set to become a meeting-place for groups of all ages, interests and backgrounds to interact and come together, and for the city as a whole to work towards a vibrant multi-cultural community to the benefit of all."