A LONG-AWAITED community house has been opened to meet the needs of the Seafield estate in Gosport.

Residents have been involved from the start in the project and were on hand to take the keys from councillors Geoff Bartlett and June Cully.

Work included building an extension to the house to accommodate a large community room for activities such as art and craft classes and mother and toddler groups.

A new Seafield community warden, due to start work in April next year, will also work from the house in Old Road.

Mr Bartlett said: "This has always been a community project and it was important we get the design right, not just give the people what we considered best.

"We are delighted to have reached the stage where we can hand over the keys to the community house,

"We hope that it provides a great meeting venue for people of all ages and that they will derive great pleasure and pride in this their project."

Work on the house is not over yet, with housing services now set to work alongside the newly formed Seafield Village Community Association to provide training and help with grant applications.

The community spirit has already been at work with residents involved in creek cleaning, fundraising for a Christmas trip to Paultons Park and starting up a local football team.