BASINGSTOKE Discovery Centre has celebrated its first year of being open to the public, during which it welcomed over 310,000 people through its doors.

Since the former library in Festival Place underwent a £1.1 million refurbishment and reopened last November, more than 6,500 new users have joined.

The new self-service terminals have been a massive hit with over 90 per cent of items borrowed being taken out using the technology.

Children’s book issues are also up 50 per cent, with more than 125,000 items borrowed in the last year.

The centre’s manager, Sarah Gray, welcomed staff and guests to a small celebration marking the first anniversary.

She said: “It has been amazing. We changed into a fully-functioning building, one which is used by so many members of the public. We are open from 8.30am each morning, enabling business people to come in to use the wi-fi, and we have over 50 adults attending rhymetime each week with their children.

“We have had a craft fair, a family history event, author visits and many more events.” She said a baby clinic will be run from the community room from January.

To mark the birthday of the Hampshire County Council facility, a number of Big Lottery-funded free events took place and a cake was cut.

The county council’s executive member for culture and recreation, Councillor Keith Chapman, said: “Happy Birthday Basingstoke Discovery Centre - and what a successful year it has been! Its popularity is down to all the effort staff have put in.” The centre is one of the county council’s first integrated information points, offering information on services and support as well as handing out free hearing aid batteries - which is proving very popular.