A FENLAND construction firm has won the contract to build a community centre in a rapidly expanding part of Peterborough.

M.A.R.S. Construction Ltd, based at Chatteris, will start work on the new Hampton Vale community centre on Monday.

The company was awarded the contract by O&H Hampton Ltd, the company behind the development of the Hampton community.

It won’t be the first time that M.A.R.S. has carried out work at Hampton - five years ago it completed an extension at Hampton Vale Primary School in a �1million contract.

The company is also currently building classroom extensions and a new children’s centre at Hampton Hargate Primary School.

Mark Pettitt, M.A.R.S. senior director, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside O&H Hampton Ltd once more and look forward to delivering this much anticipated facility for this growing community.

“Together with the school facilities under way, it’s pleasing to be making a positive contribution to so many people in this area.”

M.A.R.S. is expected to finish work in August and the centre will be available to residents by late summer.

Roger Tallowin, general manager of O&H Hampton, said: “We have worked with this construction company before and their service performance has been impressive. Wherever possible we try to engage local companies and are pleased to again be working in partnership with them on this new project”.

Almost 100 people will be directly involved with the community centre project with up to 20 on site at any time over the next six months.

Situated on West Lake Avenue near the Hampton Vale shopping parade, the 330sq-metre building will be ideal for groups, sports clubs, mums and toddlers, pensioners and other Hampton-based organisations to hold their regular meetings and activities.

There will be a choice of two halls – one slightly larger than the other – that can be partitioned and used separately or combined to create a total floor space of almost 130sq metres. When combined, the halls will provide seating for up to 280 people.

In addition to the halls, the centre will also include a smaller meeting room, office and administration areas, a kitchen, changing room amenities, toilets and ample storage space.

There will be parking spaces for 46 vehicles and a play area with soft matting outside for young children.