WORK to complete a £1.25 million theatre, cinema, bistro and meeting place is gathering in pace in Verwood.

Once one of the country's fastest growing towns, Verwood's population has risen from 2,500 to 14,000 in just a few years.

But until now the services haven't existed to meet the population growth.

Now builders have completed the skeleton of the new Verwood Hub and are working to create a 300-seat theatre inside. Hopes are high that it could also be used as a cinema. There'll also be a 100-seat hall with a sprung dance floor, a kitchen and caf area and a meeting room big enough to accommodate 40.

Bill Eggleston, a member of the steering committee for the new community centre, said: "At the moment it's a bit of an ugly duckling with scaffolding up all around but soon it may be a swan.

"There hasn't been a lot to accommodate the large numbers of people living in Verwood. Our intention is provide a facility there for entertainment for the first time."

Residents met last week at the Memorial Hall to discuss a constitution for the centre and to endorse the centre's chosen name The Hub'.

A display about the new centre will be at the Rustic Fayre on Bank Holiday Monday August 28, giving locals the opportunity to get involved with the running of it.

In October this year companies will be asked to tender for the catering franchise there.

East Dorset District Council stumped up the costs of building the centre and they and the town council will fund some of the initial running costs.

Work is due to be completed by next Easter, before that a manager will be appointed to run the centre and from January local groups interested in using the hall can begin to book.

The grand opening is expected to take place in April 2007.