CAISTER High School's new �1.4m sports hall was officially opened on Monday, with teachers' hopes high that the centre will act as a beacon of sporting excellence in east Norfolk.

CAISTER High School's new �1.4m sports hall was officially opened on Monday, with teachers' hopes high that the centre will act as a beacon of sporting excellence in east Norfolk.

Shelagh Gurney, chairman of Norfolk County Council, opened the facility, which offers hundreds of pupils a chance to play a wide range of new sports and will be opening its doors to the community.

The hall has already been open since the end of last summer, replacing the school's cramped 1960s gym and has seen youngsters take up badminton, basketball, indoor cricket and hockey in large numbers.

Apart from offering trampolining classes and the more unusual sports of pop lacrosse and handball, the school hopes the soundproofed hall will attract regional and national sporting events.

Norfolk county badminton champion Katie Price has also become a PE teacher at the school and is enjoying sharing her top shuttlecock and racquet skills.

The county council handed over a �600,000 grant for the hall and County Hall also provided a loan for the work which started last December.

The school is already receiving calls from people who want to use the hall to play badminton, mini-tennis and football during evenings and the weekend.

Anyone interested in booking the hall should phone 01493 720542 ext 340.