VILLAGERS have won nearly half a million pounds in lottery funding for a pioneering community centre project.

Madeley Community Development Project's £1.7 million leisure, learning and health facility is one step closer to reality thanks to a grant worth £479,625 from the Big Lottery.

The centre will feature a 220-seat theatre, creche and play facilities, library services, cafe and a healthy living suite.

Roger Goodwin, chairman of the project team, said: "We are delighted. This means we can go ahead with something we've been dreaming about for 10 years."

The building will be constructed using eco-friendly low carbon technologies, with solar panels, ground source heat and sustainable drainage.

It will be built alongside an extra care residential scheme, being developed by Housing 21, which will comprise 63 apartments for elderly people.