A STATE-OF-THE-ART family centre has been officially opened at Sheepridge.

The Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Margaret Fearnley, marked the opening of the Chestnut Centre by unveiling a plaque.

The £2m project - on the corner of Woodhouse Hill and Chestnut Street - provides families with a wide range of services.

The new building is owned by Kirklees Council.

It is the first in Kirklees to combine services from groups including the council, Sure Start, a scheme which works with parents of under- fives and their children, Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing and Fresh Horizons, a social enterprise supporting the regeneration of the Deighton and Sheepridge area.

The centre combines an information point with a nursery, offices and business units.

Carol Bainbridge, senior customer information adviser there, said: "The Chestnut Centre is not just here to help people.

"We want to help people help themselves. One of the difficulties many people face is that it can be very hard to find your way to the help you need.

"That could be getting your child enrolled at a school or finding a plumber. We want to help people take more control of their lives."

Andi Briggs, of the regeneration project Deighton Brackenhall Initiative, also involved in the centre, said: "The centre is here to make Deighton a great place to live.

"We don't want to just provide services for local people but create jobs for them and give them greater opportunities."