A new £1m arts centre should be finished in time for the opening of a merged college.

Work on the development at Abingdon College has started, and it should be finished later this year, when the merger with West Oxfordshire College is due to go ahead.

The new centre allow teaching of arts subjects using the latest facilities and technology. John Mason, Fitzharrys and Larkmead secondary schools will be able to use the facilities.

Subjects including art and design, media studies, dance and drama will benefit from new facilities, which will include a digital editing suite, dark rooms, print-making and textile workshops. There will also be a new radio station.

The college's head of creative arts, Mike Gaston. said: "We will be leading the way at Abingdon and this new centre will put the college on the map as far as arts subjects are concerned."