Construction work on Norfolk's largest indoor venue is well under way with strong interest already from businesses looking to book the venue when it opens in May.

The �1.4m Exhibition Hall at the Norfolk Showground is starting to take shape with the steel frame to the state-of-the-art two storey reception now complete.

The imposing 12m structure and the frame has been constructed using 48 tonnes of steel which has been fabricated and designed and erected by Dereham-based SCWS, while Norfolk-based RG Carter is carrying out the main building work. The next stage is for the steel frame to be clad in 64 sheets of glass. Work inside on the new floor and wall cladding, a giant partition, and new heat and lighting systems, is also well advanced.

The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA), which owns the site at Costessey, has invested in the project as part of a move to open up the facility to new markets.

The 3,000sq ft exhibition hall, which is licensed to hold 3,800 people, will enable the showground to attract new users including corporate exhibitions and conferences as well as large scale functions such as dinner dances and awards ceremonies.

Louise Wilkinson, RNAA business development manager, said: 'These are exciting times for the RNAA and the Showground.

'We have already had considerable interest from local and regional businesses who are seeking a large, central venue for events and functions and we are ticking all the boxes.

'In particular, businesses are looking to hire the venue on weekdays, which works very well with our current calendar as most of our consumer events are at the weekends.'