A TOWN is celebrating the completion of a £2.7m leisure and business centre after five years of planning and fundraising by the community.

The Station, created in a Victorian former railway station, is the largest community-backed project carried out in Richmond.

It will open on Friday after a campaign attracted the support of the town's 9,000 residents.

Hundreds signed up as Friends of the Station, and many will be volunteer staff.

The idea for the centre, which includes two cinemas, a bar, restaurant, exhibition gallery, offices and meeting rooms, was suggested in 2002 after the Richmond Farm and Garden Centre closed after 20 years at the Grade I-listed station.

The Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust was set up to develop the project, and public consultation shaped the proposals.

The trust negotiated a 999-year lease from Richmondshire District Council and secured funding from sources including the European Regional Development Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund. There were also donations from the Arts Council, the Gannett Foundation, run by Newsquest, which publishes The Northern Echo, and Richmond Town Council. Private donations and fundraising made £400,000.

Trustee Donald Cline said: "Never before have the people of Richmondshire worked collectively to raise so much money to create such a diverse community facility. It is testimony to everyone's hard work and commitment that we are now delivering such an ambitious project on time and almost to budget.

"As trustees, we are now completely confident in saying that we have created a fabulous and sustainable community asset that will create jobs, support local business, and have a positive impact on the town's tourist and leisure provision."

Patrons, fundraisers and civic leaders attended previews on Sunday and yesterday, and an official opening will be held in January.

The development includes six units for rent by local food producers. Three have been let - to the Richmond Brewing Company, the Angel's Share bakery, and Archer's ice cream.

The cinema will open at 6pm on Friday with Brief Encounter.

The Station website is at www.thestation.co.uk