A GLITTERING ceremony to honour Suffolk’s sporting stars at a new �18.5million public venue has had to move because the building is not ready.

Abbeycroft Leisure, which is part-funded by St Edmundsbury Borough Council, was due to stage a glamorous awards night on September 26 at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds to celebrate sporting talent in the area.

But organisers have had to move the gala evening to the Corn Exchange in the town as the Apex would not be open on time.

Julie Warren, a spokeswoman for the Apex, confirmed: “The event was scheduled for the Apex but, because it wouldn’t be open on time, it will take place at the Corn Exchange.”

The borough council, which owns the Apex, last week announced the first event at the new facility in the centre of the Arc shopping development would be the first heat of the BurySOUND competition on October 8.

Michelle Curran, a sports development officer at Abbeycroft leisure co-ordinating the sporting event, said: “It was going to be a bit tight anyway and we wanted to be in a place we knew.”

Around 300 guests are expected at the event to honour the achievements of sporting stars throughout the borough.

Posters have already been displayed around the town to promote the awards, which are open to anyone who lives in St Edmundsbury.

But Cllr Lynsey Alexander, borough council cabinet member for culture, denied the Apex was running behind its opening schedule, saying the BurySOUND launch was always going to be the first event at the new venue.

“It is opening on time,” she said. “BurySOUND was always when it was going to open.

“We have never had an official opening date.”