A £1.29m grant has been awarded to re-invent Abertillery's Metropole Theatre as a multi-purpose cultural centre.

The grant has been secured by Blaenau Gwent council from the Assembly executive's Physical Regeneration Fund to redevelop the Metropole and create a new public square.

The Metropole Cultural Centre and Square will then become the hub of regeneration work for Abertillery town centre, developing an open and vibrant social space around the town's landmark building.

The Metropole's original features and character will be retained during its transformation to safeguard the cultural heritage of the town.

The new centre will offer a range of community facilities that will be available to all.

It will provide opportunities to be used as gallery space, a conference room, exhibition facilities and performance and presentation space.

The main auditorium area will be a multi-purpose space to cater for lectures, seminars, meetings and conferences. It will be available for classroom and similar activities for school visits and community meetings.

The presentation and performance space will provide flexible racked seating for a capacity audience of more than 200.

There would be full conference facilities available and gallery space will provide scope for exhibition and hanging areas.

The new Metropole Square will be the central focus to the town and it will be developed into a social space to complement what is taking place in the cultural centre.

Councillor Nigel Daniels, executive member for leisure services, said:

"This is a another piece of great news for the future of Abertillery town centre and the whole of Blaenau Gwent.

"This is a project that will generate a sense of community pride for those living in and visiting the town."

He added: "The cultural centre will preserve the history of the town for future generations as well as promoting the area's diverse culture and heritage."

The Metropole Theatre and Market Hall, in Market Street, were built in 1892 by Charles John Seaborne.

Mr Seabourne ran it as a theatre until 1952. During the Second World War it fell into disrepair and was purchased by Abertillery Urban District Council for £11,000.

It has been in public ownership ever since. The theatre has never had large scale alterations and retains a great deal of its original character as a Victorian theatre and music hall.