An open day with a difference is to take place at a community centre in Norwich.

Eastern Daily Press: Amber the dragon Angelica's Rainbow star at Marlpit community centre event. Photo: Angelica's RainbowAmber the dragon Angelica's Rainbow star at Marlpit community centre event. Photo: Angelica's Rainbow (Image: Angelica's Rainbow)

The doors of Marlpit Community Centre will open for people to vote on future plans of the centre.

Volunteers at the community centre are hosting their tea time event on Monday, May 14 from 4pm to 7pm.

The centre, which is owned by Norwich City Council but run by a charity staffed by volunteers, has embarked on the community consultation following a year spent making a business plan for the future.

Lucy Galvin, centre chairman, said: 'Our aim as a committee is to make sure that the centre is a thriving community resource, accessible to everyone locally. We are well on the way to this and we always want to hear what residents want and need.

'Thanks to the hard work of the volunteers who run it, the centre is going from strength to strength with a 50pc increase in bookings this year.

'Now we are looking to see what the community want to do next, so we will be sharing some ideas and asking people to vote on what they'd like to see.

'We'll also be looking for new ideas. The afternoon will be a showcase for the centre and a lot of fun - all are welcome to attend.'

Options for the future of the centre include new notice boards and displays, a kitchen revamp, recycling facilities for users, solar panels, new signage outside, better links with Marriott's Way, social media development, a website, health events, a recruitment drive for committee members and employing a caretaker and book keeper.

During the drop in, visitors will get the chance to meet animals from Angelica's Rainbow, a local organisation which provides animal encounters for education, therapeutic and practical purposes and will be attending with Amber the reptilian dragon among other animals.

Age UK Norwich, Marriott's Way Heritage Trail, Tiger Mixed Martial Arts Hanmudo, Marlpit Arms Pub, Angelica's Rainbow, Rivercare and the Sustainable Living Initiative will have stalls set up showing what they do in the area.