THE next phase of the UK's first ever after stroke centre, built in Bromsgrove, has officially opened.

The Stroke Association’s Life After Stroke Centre, which cost £2.2 million to build, opened to the public in 2012.

The state-of-the-art facility is the national headquarters of the charity and was the first centre in the country to deliver training for volunteers and care workers so they can support stroke victims and their families.

Based at the former school house in Church Lane, the centre is used to support survivors who are finding it difficult to cope with the demands of daily living.

On March 24, the second phase of the centre, the Edith Murphy House, opened to the public.

The house is named after the foundation that provided the funds for the refurbishment of the former White House building.

The new facility features an arts and crafts room, a quiet room, a social room and a large meeting room that doubles as a space for health and wellbeing activities such as fitness classes.

The first floor of the building has also been transformed into a multi-media centre that includes state-of-the-art recording and editing equipment for producing films and productions.

The plan is for the charity to show the experiences of stroke survivors, and the support that the charity can provide for people across the country.

At the official opening chief executive of the Stroke Association, Jon Barrick, gave the foundation trustees and other guests a guided tour of the new building.

He said: "The new facilities within Edith Murphy House have provided us with the opportunity to develop and extend our Life After Stroke Activities Programme, which will benefit more stroke survivors in the area."

To find out more about the activities at the Life after Stroke centre visit stroke.org.uk/support/activities-life-after-stroke-centre.