A Sudbury charity has celebrated the official opening of its new community hub building with a special ceremony.

After an extensive fundraising effort, the Hive charity completed the purchase of the former Christ Church United Reformed Church in School Street, Sudbury, this year.

The Grade II-listed church closed in 2018 due to dwindling congregations and went onto the market for £650,000.

The charity then agreed a deal to buy the historic building to transform it into The Hive Community Hub - which can be used to serve the needs of organisations and groups in and around the town.

Fundraisers and donors were invited to attend the hub on Saturday, following some initial repairs and cleaning, for the formal opening of the building.

Around 70 people heard speeches, live music and saw the unveiling of a plaque in memory of local benefactor Joy Abbott.

Mrs Abbott, who died in 2013, left a legacy, managed by the Suffolk Community Foundation, to benefit local groups over a number of years.

The trustees decided on this project and Hive has named the United Reformed Church as the 'Joy Abbott Hall' in recognition of her significant funding gift.

Lesley Ford-Platt, Hive trustee, said: "The morning with all the donors was amazing, we had about 70 people here.

"We're incredibly grateful to them all for their support because we were on a short time-scale by the time the Synod had agreed to sell it to us.

"It was a lovely atmosphere, and we had some lovely speeches from the chair of Hive trustees Shirley [Moore] and treasurer Gareth [Cole]."

Mrs Ford-Platt added that the hall is still looking to raise around £400,000 for continuing improvement work in the future.

Andrea Pittock, from Suffolk Community Foundation, who unveiled the Joy Abbott Hall plaque, said: "She was a very private woman but the trustees decided that it would be really special that she would be recognised and named because of the legacy."

Already groups are booking to use the community hub but some days and evenings are still available. Enquiries about availability should be made to Gareth Cole on 07771 893702.

The first event in the Joy Abbott Hall will be Sudbury Choral Society’s Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 12 at 6.30pm.

Tickets at £12 each are available from the tourist information ffice at the town hall or Juniper Flowers in North Street.