A STAGE-of-the-art sports centre is taking shape in Worcester.

Building work for the £15 million Worcester Arena started in January and is expected to be finished early next year.

The arena, being built on the old fruit and vegetable market site in Hylton Road, will seat 2,000 people and is also designed to be a centre for high-performance disability sport.

The arena will be the first British purpose-built facility for wheelchair athletes outside Stoke Mandeville and will also be the new home of Worcester Wolves basketball team.

The footprint of the building is starting to emerge as steel works have been erected along with high level ground beams.

Work has also begun on an electrical substation and underground duct work is under way.

The arena will also be used by the University of Worcester students.

A university spokesman said the project was due on time and on budget and should be finished as scheduled in January.

She said: “It’s all progressing very well.

“The exterior of the building should be finished by Christmas and the interior not long after that.”

The university was awarded £1.5 million from Sport England’s Iconic Facilities Olympic legacy fund towards the development, which will carry the London Olympic 2012 Inspire mark.

Iconic Facilities is part of the £135 million Places People Play programme that aims to bring the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities.

The university is still offering people the chance to buy a brick in return for donations which will go towards equipment for the venue.

To buy a brick, visit worcester.ac.uk