An Oxfordshire school has declared itself officially open for business after unveiling a new £1m enterprise centre.

Marlborough School in Woodstock is hoping to attract a host of local firms and community groups to its state-of-the-art facility which it is calling the MEC.

Sharon Whittaker, business and enterprise co-ordinator, said: "We are really keen to market the building as the MEC rather than the Marlborough School Enterprise Centre because we are treating it as being almost separate from the school."

The centre, which can hold 300 people, has been built with funding from Oxfordshire County Council and the school's specialist business and enterprise college status which it achieved three years ago.

Inside the building, which covers about 950 sq ft, there are three seminar rooms with projectors and interactive facilities, an information technology suite and a hall with a sprung wooden dance floor.

Ms Whittaker added: "We would like businesses to use it for conferences, seminars and exhibitions as well as dance and drama groups.

"And it backs onto the sports hall should more space be required."

Ms Whittaker added that she will be arranging for pupils to send out surveys to local businesses to find out what their needs might be.

It is hoped to run courses within the facility, building on small business programmes on subjects such as book keeping, public relations and customer care which have already proved a success.

Ms Whittaker said: "The idea is to encourage as many people as we can to become involved and show them what we can provide.

"We would also like businesses to hire the premises."

Anyone interested in using the centre should contact Ms Whittaker on 01993 814744 or e-mail sjw7023@marlborough.oxon.sch.uk