AFTER months of planning, consultation and delay, a turf cutting ceremony has finally marked the start of work on the £4.3 million Bridgwater YMCA.

The ceremony, with YMCA representatives and civic leaders on Monday marked the start of 12 months of work on the Friarn Avenue centre.

The new development will have a sports hall, including health and fitness space, changing rooms, youth radio station, cafe, conference rooms, bin store, cycle stands, parking and a 49ft wind turbine.

The football pitch and floodlit multi-use games pitch will be retained.

The present George Williams House, opened in 1967 on the same site, will continue to be used before being demolished.

The centre was made possible with funding from the Government's MyPlace scheme run by the Big Lottery Fund.

Bridgwater YMCA chief executive Martin Hodgson said: "It is great that the work has started and we look forward to providing not only a centre for youths but services for the community."

Sedgemoor councillors granted the YMCA planning consent to demolish the old building and forge ahead with the new one in January.

Bridgwater YMCA was awarded the money to replace the out-of-date building in December.

Plans were scaled down to avoid the need for a time-consuming transport assessment.