NEWPORT'S historic Lysaght Institute has seen thousands come through the doors since its refurbishment last year.

The institute which re-opened in November last year following a £3 million refurbishment has seen over 2,000 guests and hundreds of other visitors use the revamped facilities.

The Institute that was first opened in 1928 for the workforce of the Orb Steelworks and quickly became an integral part of the community, fell into a state of disrepair, closing 2001.

Now the iconic venue is hosting weddings, fitness classes and tea dances as part of the institutes ongoing mission to provide the community with activities at an affordable price, The building is the cornerstone of a £50 million development of Lysaght Parc by Linc Crymru.

A great number of local residents remember the building from its glory days when it was a key part of their day-to-day lives.

The developers were keen that its illustrious past was not lost in its refurbishment, but incorporated into a modern community hub.

Now the building features a meeting and training room, an IT suite, a new community coffee shop, childcare provision and a fully equipped commercial kitchen.

Classes at the centre include weight watcher sessions, zumba, and ballroom dancing.

Alun Harries social enterprise manager at the institute said: "The refurbishment was carried out over 49 weeks beginning in November 2011.

"In 2009 we bought the land and have developed it all.

"The idea for the institute was to provide community activities at an affordable level, and we have also been able to cater for weddings as well, with Asian weddings being particularly popular.

"The building is quite an icon and so we have kept the function room the same and developed other areas such as the coffee shop and meeting rooms."