The College of West Anglia's new £5.8m technology building was officially opened by former Formula 1 driver and TV presenter Martin Brundle.

The event started with the official unveiling of the plaque, followed by tours of the new facilities.

Mr Brundle - who attended the college when it was Norfolk College of Art and Technology, in the 1970s, concluded his visit by meeting students and staff from the electrical and CAD engineering design departments and got involved in a practical session in the workshop.

'It's been a pleasure to return to the college and I'm very impressed with the new technology centre,' he said. 'The engineering industry is an important part of the local and regional economy and these new facilities will enable the college to develop the talent and skills of our young people whilst support the training needs of a wide range of employers.'

Principal David Pomfret said: 'These new facilities highlight the College's commitment to outstanding learning by providing the best training facilities to support the current and future training and skills needs of the local economy.'

The new building spread over two floors with a total area of 2,280 sqm was funded by Norfolk County Council, West Norfolk council and the Skills Funding Agency. It boasts the latest technologies and equipment to enable students to get the very best out of their learning experience.

Nick Daubney, leader of West Norfolk council, said: 'Developing the skills of young people in the area is crucial for helping local businesses grow and thrive.

'This new facility, based within the highly-regarded College of West Anglia, will give young people access to the training that they need in order to take advantage of local engineering job opportunities.

'We are delighted that we have been able to help support the college with funding for this facility, and with their impressive track record for delivering high quality training, we think the future is looking bright for West Norfolk's young people.'

Bill Borrett, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said: 'Education remains a key priority for the County Council, so despite these tough times, we are delighted to have been able to contribute £1.5m towards this much needed development, through the Norfolk Infrastructure Fund. The new block will provide excellent new learning facilities for young people in the west of our county and will help to boost skills and the employment potential of those who use it. This impressive facility has an important part to play in developing a vibrant economy in West Norfolk and the county council were pleased to play its part in turning what was an exciting proposal into reality, using the fund to the best effect.'