The groundwork has started on a 'hugely exciting' development to build a new community centre in a Suffolk village.

Plans for the community centre and 19 homes to be built in Worlingham, near Beccles, were approved in back February.

Now the process of the build is underway as diggers have started laying the foundations of the new development, starting with the groundwork.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: David Bland, Paul Gurbutt, Adrian Crockett, Norman Brooks, Jon Smith, Wendy Summerfield, Sheila Smith, Steve Larkin and Dave Howson, trustees of the Worlingham Community FacilityDavid Bland, Paul Gurbutt, Adrian Crockett, Norman Brooks, Jon Smith, Wendy Summerfield, Sheila Smith, Steve Larkin and Dave Howson, trustees of the Worlingham Community Facility (Image: Newsquest)

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Adrian Crockett, chairman of the Community Centre Trustees, said: "It is hugely exciting that the project is under way.

"This is something we have fought incredibly hard for, a process which began back in 2012.

"Though the community centre is in Worlingham, we want the development to be for people of Beccles too.

"So we have been appealing for the cooperation of the public for ideas on how the centre will be used, people's thoughts, so we can deliver in everyone's best interest."

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Drains have been dug and the groundwork of the project has been laid Drains have been dug and the groundwork of the project has been laid (Image: Submitted)

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The groundwork for the development of the community centre began as diggers cleared the site and put in drainage work for the facility.

It is hoped that the community centre will be completed by the final third of next year.

In the documents, it states that the centre must be built before the 19 homes.

To share your thoughts on the project email the trustees at: worlinghamcf@hotmail.com