Festival Drayton Centre extension is complete

A £200,000 project to extend a Shropshire arts venue has been completed, with bosses saying they now have "more ammunition" to attract bigger and better acts.

The community-owned Festival Drayton Centre, in Market Drayton, now has a bigger stage in its auditorium and more space backstage, which can be used as dressing rooms for live events or for community meetings.

Geoff Vernon, chairman, said: "We have always strived for the top acts anyway and this extra space will give us more ammunition."

Under the revamp, an extension has been built backstage, soundproofing improved and a disabled lift moved elsewhere.

Work on the multi-purpose space, which has moveable walls, has been ongoing since the summer.

The centre was awarded £204,000 by Advantage West Midlands, through the Rural Development Programme for England, in order to fund the scheme.