A new sports hall in Bury St Edmunds is now being enjoyed by schoolchildren and the wider community.

The hall at the Victory Ground in Nowton Road was part of a £2.1million project to improve the facilities there.

Students from South Lee School have been using the hall during the day since November and teacher Chris Schanschieff said community use in the evenings and weekends had really taken off this month.

Mr Schanschieff, who manages the hall, said: “I am extremely proud to be a part of what is a fantastic facility for the school and for teams in East Anglia.

“The pupils at South Lee are now able to use a facility that many already consider to be the best facility of any school in the area.”

The clubs which use the sports hall, which opened in November, include Bury Tchoukball and Suffolk Netball.

Mr Schanschieff said it is hoped that the dance and drama studio would be completed later in the year.

As well as the sports hall, there is a new cricket pavilion and changing rooms at the site.

A consortium of partners, including Victory Sports Ground Ltd, Bury St Edmunds Cricket Club and South Lee School, owns the sports ground.