Work has started on a new £1.5 million library and community learning centre for New Parks in Leicester.

The New Parks Library and Community Learning Centre, funded by Leicester City Council and The Big Lottery Fund, is being developed on a prominent site at the heart of the community next to shops, and other local facilities, in Aikman Avenue.

Leicester City Council asked people of all ages what services they wanted in a local library and learning centre.

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As well as the usual library services the new centre will have a cafe, training kitchen, IT training suite, and community space for social events, crafts and other learning activities.

Cllr Andy Connelly, Cabinet Lead for Culture and Leisure, said: "This is a really exciting time, when local residents can see the beginnings of their new first class facility being built.

"The new library is going to be extremely popular with the local community and is nothing less than the residents of New Parks deserve. But the building will be much more than just another library - it will be a focus for the whole community."

New Parks is recognised as one of the most deprived areas in the country. Local people will be able to access formal and informal learning at the centre. The new building is expected to open in spring 2010.

(CD/BMcc)