A HAMPSHIRE town is to gain a multi-million-pound tennis and arts centre that will rival existing attractions elsewhere in the south.

New Forest Council has set the stage and approved plans to turn historic Hanger Farm, Totton, into a state-of-the-art facility.

Today it was revealed that work on the £2m showpiece is likely to start in the next few weeks.

The arts area will be used by a mixture of local drama groups and professional touring companies, and will also provide a new home for Totton Drama Festival.

It will be run by Totton College, which intends to make Hanger Farm one of the best facilities of its type in the region.

Other parts of the site will see the construction of eight tennis courts, a sports pavilion and a children's play area.

The town council's application to transform the derelict farm was approved at a meeting of the district council's planning and development control committee.

Council officers said it would provide a "comprehensive community facility" at West Totton, where thousands of new homes have been built in recent years.

Hanger Farm will rival existing facilities in the south.

This includes the nationally renowned Forest Arts in New Milton, which often draws big name attractions.

Mark Bramwell, principal of Totton College, said: "We have been working on this for several years and to get this far is extremely pleasing.

"We intend to make Hanger Farm a vibrant centre that will be every bit as good as existing community arts facilities in the south.

"We aim to combine a unique heritage site with state-of-the-art equipment and digital technology."

Totton and Eling town clerk Derek Biggs said he hoped work would start at the end of next month or the beginning of July.