MORRISONS bosses have placed an offer to buy out Verwood Leisure Centre after years of talks.

The plan is to expand the supermarket in Chiltern Drive and also build a petrol station.

And East Dorset District council chiefs see the deal as crucial in their ambitions to revive The Hub art centre’s fortunes and give residents a new sports hall at Emmanuel Middle School.

Health and fitness facilities would move to the four-year-old Hub, in Brock Way, and money from the sale would also pay for a floodlit training pitch at Potterne Park.

Resident John Britnell said: “I think it’s good news. We definitely need a bigger store, and the other shops in town tend to be very expensive.

“Getting another petrol station would be wonderful too.”

Another Verwood resident, who did not want to be named, said he currently drives out of town to re-fuel his car and also welcomed the idea of having more shops.

“The Hub is a bit soulless,” he said. “It’s not become the community Hub it was meant to be. It needs to cater more for the population’s age.”

Young mum Angie Robertson said she could not wait for Morrisons to expand.

“It would be great to have another petrol station as a bit of competition,” she said.

She occasionally meets friends for coffee at The Hub or takes her children to see films there.

“When the weather’s good they’ll play outside in the garden, but it could do with a bit more play equipment,” she said. “The cinema’s great – there’s a nice atmosphere and it’s really cheap.

“I know it’s been in a bit of trouble but I’ve heard it’s getting back on track.

“As long as there’s the same number of exercise machines as at the leisure centre, I wouldn’t mind.”