A FORMER piggery at a Christchurch music centre has been transformed into state of the art music rooms.

Coda Music Trust have opened the newly developed Old Piggery at their music centre in Walkford, in the latest stage of their ongoing development.

Coda's music centre provides facilities dedicated to teaching, workshops, training, music therapy and music for health and well-being.

At a special VIP event, the newly-developed piggery, which was last used for livestock in 1995, was shown off to visitors.

Due to increasing demand, the charity has expanded its facilities at the former Victorian farm in recent years.

The site was bought in 2005, and now has seven new spaces for instrumental tuition and workshops, as well as a new reception area and improved grounds.

The event was attended by the Mayor of New Milton, Cllr David Hawkins and the deputy Mayor of Christchurch, Cllr Trish Jamieson as well as representatives from some of the trusts and foundations who have been instrumental in helping to finance the development.

Phil Hallett, CEO of Coda said: “For me, this was a unique opportunity to say thank you to everybody who has been involved in this incredible development.

"I would especially like to thank the Talbot Village Trust, the Valentine Charitable Trust, the Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Charitable Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Sylvia Waddilove Foundation and our builders Smith & Rowsell - as well as all of the wonderful volunteers who give their time to Coda each week.

“At Coda, we reach the most vulnerable people in our community, those with profound disabilities, at the end of their life, plagued by ill health, the sick, the elderly, and those in need.

"We try to help everyone through music and the refurbishment of the Old Piggery will almost double our capacity, enabling us to meet existing demand for our music services and to diversify into new areas."