CORSHAM'S new shopping centre will now include a Wiltshire College IT centre after a deal was signed on Wednesday.

The IT centre is the latest addition to the £3m project, which will open later this summer.

Wiltshire College principal George Bright said the IT centre was party of the college's plan to expand in Corsham.

He said: "This is good news for Wiltshire College. We have got a small centre in Corsham at the moment and we were looking to increase the size of our facility. We have been able to take up space in the Martingate development."

The IT centre should open in January 2004 after it has been kitted out. The college's current site in the town will now be used for arts and craft work and the expansion will see greater provision for adult learning.

Main construction work on the centre in Corsham's Precinct should be completed by the end of the month.

The project finally got under way in January this year after a series of delays. Since then many traders say business has suffered but Mr Hall is confident their concerns will soon be over.

The development includes doubling the size of the Somerfield store and converting the old chapel into a restaurant.