Thousands of people are set to benefit from the opening of a new £750,000 eco-friendly building.

Windhill Community Centre has just officially opened and hundreds of residents have flocked to see if for themselves.

The state-of-the art centre in Church Street is not far from the site where the old centre was based for 21 years in a "temporary" portable building that came from Heathrow Airport.

The new building took a year to construct and was funded by organisations and trusts including the European Regional Development Fund, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and SureStart.

Courses from Spanish to computers, maths and literacy are already up and running and community groups are settling in.

An Ofsted-registered creche, which can look after up to 12 children while parents are on the courses, is due to open this week.

And a healthy living project is limbering up to put on exercise and relaxation sessions including yoga and alternative therapies.

But community centre workers say there is still plenty of room for even more activities and groups and are looking for ideas.

Community development worker Alison Swiszczowski said the new centre was "working its wow factor" on everyone visiting for the first time.

"They just love it. It's such an enormous contrast to the old building, which leaked, was freezing and didn't always have hot water," she said. "We've waited a long time for this. It's going to be such a boost for the area. It's brilliant and we hope people will come and see it for themselves."

Already community groups have been digging in to help by taking over some of the gardening and there are plans to involve youngsters from Windhill Primary School too.

Work is still going on to make a car park but that should be finished soon, says community economic development worker Kath Quinn.

She is also looking for more volunteers to help run the caf, serving up meals and drinks.

The new environmentally-friendly centre will cut down on gas and electricity bills because of its thorough insulation, light sensors - meaning switches are not left on unneeded - and a "grey water" recycling system which collects rainwater to flush the toilets.

Centre user Joseph Kilbride, who also helps out in the caf, said: "It's fantastic. It should last us for years. The staff worked very hard to get us it and it's paid off at last."

Windhill ward councillor Vanda Greenwood, who has surgeries there, said: "It's a place where the whole community can go and be proud of. It's really uplifting for the whole of the neighbourhood. We've still got lots of work to do on issues to improve the area but this centre is a good start."

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk