Plans for long-awaited sports and community facilities in Halesworth have been welcomed by local people.

Residents were invited to the launch of the Halesworth Campus 2012 project at which a vision for the town's middle school site was outlined.

The school is due to close in August 2012, following a Suffolk-wide reorganisation of education, and the Halesworth Campus Task Group was set up to see whether the site could be turned into a hub for community resources.

The primary aim is to address the lack of sporting facilities for the Blyth Valley catchment area, while linking this to the North Suffolk Skills Centre.

Halesworth Playing Fields Association and Waveney District Council have been working with fitness company Pulse, and it is hoped a sports complex will provide an indoor heated swimming pool, gym, activities room, caf� and a function room. It is hoped this will act as a springboard for other projects, possibly including a new day centre for the elderly and business facilities.

Local people are being asked for their input and a project launch and exhibition was held on Wednesday.

David George, 45, from Wenhaston, said: 'The site is in such a brilliant position. It is time that Halesworth was at the centre of something again.'

David March, 81, from Halesworth said he would like to see a community hall included in the plans.