WORK on the £2.4-million 'Lakeside' project has started at Roadford Lake.

The project, supported by Heritage Lottery, Objective 2, South West Regional Development Agency, Broadwoodwidger Parish Council, West Devon Borough Council, Exeter Archaeology, South West Forest Project and Pennon Environmental Fund, will bring a visitors' centre, function rooms, IT rooms, an education officer and a new level of catering to the site.

Builders Stacey's of Holsworthy are due to complete phase one in time for the restaurant to open for the late May Bank Holiday, with other local contractors Abbott's and Saxty Engineering supplying the kitchen equipment.

South West Lakes Trust catering supervisor Colin Vallance said: 'Visitors during the summer will be able to enjoy an exciting and more varied menu, produced fresh to order on site from local suppliers.

'We are all looking forward to the opening of the visitors' centre and function rooms in April 2005 to increase our service even further.'

The new visitors' centre will chart the history of local people and the landscape they created and will be the focus for visits and training organised by the trust's education officer.

In addition to the visitors' centre the local community will be able to make use of an IT room for activities, training and meetings.

The trust's project manager, James Platts, said: 'This is an exciting time for everyone involved with South West Lakes Trust.

'"Lakeside" will demonstrate the partnership between our staff, the community and volunteers to make conservation and leisure work together for everyone's benefit.'