Plans to boost the health and wellbeing of people in Wymondham will get a boost this month with the official opening of a community facility.

Wymondham Martial Arts and Wellbeing Centre was first established as a charity 12 months ago at a disused industrial unit. But the facility will celebrate its official opening on January 15 after receiving funding to complete the renovation of the building into a modern sports centre.

Officials behind the project said they hoped the initiative will provide a boost to the Silfield area of the town and get more people involved in sport and exercise.

The building at Unit 4, Phillip Ford Way, has been converted and divided up to include two martial arts areas, a dance and fitness studio, and therapy room.

The centre, which offers 28 different sporting activities for all ages seven days a week, has been completed following funding of �2,000 from South Norfolk Council and �6,000 from the NatWest Community Force promotion.

Chris Claydon, one of the trustees, said: 'It has been an enormous boost. When we took it on, it was an empty industrial unit and we have had to build walls inside that. The last funding has enabled us to build showers, changing rooms, a disabled toilet and kitchen.'

He added that the building, run by three trustees and a band of volunteers, was already bringing in up to 500 people a week and there was capacity for more.

'We deliberately based ourselves in Silfield because it does not have many facilities there.

'It is really exciting. It has been a dream of ours for several years to do this and a lot of hard work for us and January 15 is going to be exciting to see that hard work come together,' he said.

The martial arts and wellbeing centre was started after the Wymondham Judo Club needed to move to larger premises and evolved into creating a space for other activities.

The charity-run, not-for-profit centre will be officially opened by Wymondham mayor Neil Ward on Saturday, January 15, between 10am and 4pm where there will be displays from the ten different martial arts and ten wellbeing classes including yoga, dance, spiritualism and pole fit.