A new community facility in Mearns, Aberdeenshire, is to open its doors later this month.

An open day will be held for the local community ahead of its formal opening, it is understood.

On Sunday 17 August, a preview event will be held at the Mearns Academy Community Campus, from 10.30am to 4pm, and will allow people to have a look at the community facilities created on the site, as well as sections of the new secondary school.

The £24m campus, located on Aberdeen Road in Laurencekirk, has been under construction since 2012. Part-funded by the Scottish Futures Trust, it features a public library, theatre, drama studio, dance and aerobics studio, as well as meeting rooms, a conference suite, kitchens, computer rooms, and interview rooms. The sports and leisure facilities include a four-court games hall, fitness room, aerobics studio and changing rooms, and an outdoor artificial pitch and two grass pitches.

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In addition, the campus also offers free Wi-Fi facilities and a coffee bar, along with an unmanned police office where arrangements can be made to meet a police officer.

Chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Education, Learning and Leisure Committee, Councillor Isobel Davidson, said: "This is a great opportunity for people to get their first glance at this brand new facility for the Mearns and find out more about the community activities that will be on offer.

"This truly is a community facility and we hope to develop a real sense of local ownership of the campus through a broad range of activities led by local groups and organisations."

Councillor Peter Argyle, Chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee, added: "The campus is the latest in a series of major infrastructure projects being delivered by Aberdeenshire Council through its capital plan and provides great opportunities for community use.

"I hope visitors to the open day will enjoy this first chance to see the modern facilities for themselves and think about how to get involved in the activities that will be on offer."

The facility will formally open on Thursday 21 August.

(JP/IT)