A NEW children's centre based at Westfield Community Technology College will be opened next Wednesday.

Lord Laming of Tewin will perform the honours at the school in Tolpits Lane.

Lord Laming, who chaired the Victoria Climbie Enquiry, was director of Social Services in Hertfordshire from 1975 to 1991, before becoming chief inspector of Social Services nationally.

The centre is one of the few of its kind in the country to be based at a secondary school.

Jan Spavin, the school's headteacher, said: "This is an exciting time for everyone in the local community. Over the last few years we've been offering everything from a nursery and antenatal classes to breakfast, after school and holiday clubs for children at schools in the area.

"Becoming an official children's centre means we have been able to build excellent relationships with our partner organisations such as local primary schools, pre-school playgroup, the Childminders' Association, the local Primary Care Trust and the family centre.

"With these organisations we are now developing further services for the community, for example, parenting classes, a care and toddler group and a toy library. We are also building links with our adult education provision and tailor-made courses are being developed to help childminders with IT and other training needs."