A grant of more than £395,000 has been given to Patchway Town Council to complete the second phase of a community building.

Coniston Community Centre so far consists of a day nursery and two community rooms.

The cash from the Big Lottery Fund will be used to add a community cafe and kitchen to the ground floor. Two new function rooms on the upper floor will provide an area for local groups and clubs to meet and for local people to hold parties and other events.

The work will also allow the premises to be used for college and community learning courses as well as advice agency sessions.

It is hoped the final phase of the work will be completed in September 2010.

Patchway town clerk Lucy Hamid said: "This funding will make a real difference to the community.

"The centre will be a real hub for local residents and provide lots of new opportunities for people of all ages.

"The advice services that will be available will be particularly useful during this difficult financial time."

Mark Cotton, Big Lottery Fund's South West spokesman, said: "At a time when many community and voluntary groups are feeling the pinch, this money will go a long way to supporting the Patchway community, ensuring that they have a central facility where they can meet up and access a range of activities and support services."