SHAFTESBURY Arts Centre's 432 members saw the fruits of their labours on Saturday when the centre reopened after a £52,000 facelift using the cash they raised.

As soon as the curtain fell on the centre's summer production of Guys and Dolls work began.

Cupboards were emptied, skips were filled and the contractors made their dramatic entrance with steel girders and lifting gear to turn 13 Bell Street into a steel toe caps and hard hat area for three months.

People pored over plans instead of scripts and musical scores while over the road at the Methodist Church Hall the arts centre hard core rehearsed in a hired room.

The auditorium was stripped of its seats which were cleaned and refixed to the bare wooden floor, walls were painted and new house lights put in place.

A hearing loop has been put in for anyone hard of hearing and the centre's Phoenix Room is now larger, newly decorated and lit with new kitchen facilities and an enlarged bar serving hatch.

Arts centre chair John Cadmore said: "We are extremely proud of our Arts Centre and are constantly improving it in ways not always obvious to everyone but it is when we achieve landmark developments, such as this or the new staircase toilets and box office in 1993.

"We are a forward looking group and we are already thinking of the next project and I am sure there will be another one after that."