A BRAND new events area has been officially opened, providing more space for entertainment in the town centre.

The canopy, located in Bond Square hopes to attract more guests to the town centre with a new 1,000 square foot area.

Councillor Marc Brunel-Walker, executive member for regeneration, said: “Bond Square is The Lexicon’s dedicated events space and so the canopy will enable a whole host of events to take place there, come rain or shine.

Councillors opened the canopy with a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony and celebrated the new space in The Lexicon.

Cllr Brunel-Walker added: “We always planned to put the canopy in after The Lexicon’s launch so we could get a sense of the best shape and size to commission to fit with the space and how it is used.

"This is yet another part of creating our town’s much-wanted social and cultural heart.”

General manager of The Lexicon, Rob Morris said: “The Lexicon Proms were such a huge success last year and the canopy will enable us to deliver more of this type of event over a longer seasonal period. "We hope that it will become a real focal point for the town centre.”