The name of Didcot's long-promised arts centre, the jewel in the crown of the town's redevelopment, has finally been chosen.

South Oxfordshire District Council announced the name of the £7.4m venue, at the junction of Orchard Street and Station Road, will be Cornerstone.

Chris Tyson, head of leisure and economic development, said a team of designers worked in conjunction with the people of Didcot to come up with the name.

The branding of the centre cost £10,000 to develop and designers say the name and logo is memorable, modern and will not look old-fashioned in years to come.

Emma Dolman, Cornerstone's newly-appointed director, said: "It will be used by the whole region and it will be a cornerstone for arts, leisure and entertainment. We hope everyone will be able to find something for themselves there.

"I'm delighted to come to south Oxfordshire and I'm very much looking forward to working with the community to fill the arts centre with exciting events."

District councillor Bill Service said the council had thought long and hard to find a name that would both accurately reflect the building's status within the community, and encapsulate what it will provide.

He said: "We're delighted to announce that the centre will be known as Cornerstone and a treasured and well-used cornerstone we hope it will become."

The centre, which will include a multi-purpose 278-seat auditorium, exhibition spaces and a cafe, is due to be completed next spring. A council spokesman said: "Cornerstone will appeal to the widest spectrum of tastes."