A topping out ceremony at the new £6.5m university centre at the College of West Anglia (CWA) in King's Lynn has brought the development of new facilities a step closer.

Work is nearing completion and yesterday students, staff and guests were given a tour of the building, which has 14 digital classrooms and a 120-seat multimedia lecture theatre.

When it is open in September, it will benefit up to 500 additional students from west Norfolk and the Fens in the next few years. Those currently studying higher education courses will also be able to make full use of the new facilities.

CWA principal and chief executive David Pomfret said: 'This area is one of the cold-spots for university presence in England, so it's fantastic to plug that gap. This will enable young people from the area to stay close to home but go far in terms of achievement.'

Students Amy English, Samantha Broughton and Georgina Whitford, all 20, are studying for a BA Hons in early childhood professional studies.

Georgina said: 'It will be exciting to be in the new building. Amy and I have been here five years, so we've seen a lot of changes.'

Chairman of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership – which secured the funding – Mark Pendlington said: 'As a country, we may be going through uncertain times, but the East is powering ahead, with the recent opening of the King's Lynn innovation centre and the £23m investment in Mars Food last week, and now this.'

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