WORK is well underway to build a new training centre for Worcester Rowing Club on site of the old building that burned down almost seven years ago.

The new centre has been designed to look as similar as possible to the original 19th Century building.

"Externally it will look more or less exactly the same as the old building," said Nick Joyce, of Nick Joyce Architects.

The only difference is the new building will have disabled access and will be timber coloured rather than the black and white original building.

But the new building will completely different inside and will be used as a training centre for the city's rowing club, as well as others across the region.

The building will also be the control point for regattas and races on the river.

"It's just on the apex of the bend so you can see both ways down the river," said Bob Wooding, Worcester Rowing Club president.

"This is not the refurbishment of the old building but an entirely new building on the site."

Mr Wooding said he hoped the building would be up and running by early summer, possibly as soon as April.

Funding for the new building has come in part from the Sports Lottery Council, as well as from the club and the insurance from the old building.

The original headquarters were destroyed in an arson attack in 1995.

The remains of the Worcester Rowing Club's old riverside headquarters were demolished in August 1999 to tidy the area for the National Waterways Festival.

In September 2000, the club won £127,884 from the Lottery Sports Fund.

Work on the new building began in August last year.