A CELEBRATION was held to mark the completion of £750,000 of improvements to the Salvation Army centre in Colchester.

Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell, Colchester mayor Christopher Arnold and the Colchester branch’s oldest member 100-year-old Tom Blackmore were among the 140 guests for the official re-opening of the centre in Butt Road.

Lt Col Ivor Telfer, secretary of business administration for the Salvation Army, performed the official ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening.

The raft of improvements to the centre, which was built in 1973, includes a new roof, electrics, heating system, lift and staircase.