AN outdoor education centre that took Tony Blair sailing can now welcome more people after a major refurbishment.

Worcestershire County Council's facility at Upton Warren was awarded a New Opportunities Fund grant of £330,000 to extend changing facilities and provide more capacity.

The centre, which has operated in one guise or another since the 1960s, runs courses for all sectors of the community and offers facilities for all ages.

The focus is mainly on water-based activities such as sailing, canoeing, kayaking and windsurfing. But the centre also offers complementary land-based ones such as archery.

Derek Prodger, chairman of Worcestershire County Council, opened up the new-look site. He said: "I believe this is now one of the best outdoor centres in the country.

"I am especially delighted to see the superb capabilities there are for disabled people."