CONTRACTORS working on a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly Gwent building have drilled 100 metres into the ground to extract heat from the ground.

Torfaen council"s £1.8 million Power Station learning centre is set to take centre stage in the community of St Dial"s in Cwmbran.

Work is already well under way on the project, and the council says the building should ready for use by October.

The three-story concrete and glass building will harness both thermal and solar power and, according to planners, will stand out as one of the most eco-friendly buildings in Wales.

Contractors have just drilled the first of 10,100-metre bore holes which will generate heat from the ground.

The project has received £1 million of funding from the National Assembly"s local regeneration fund, and £800,000 from the Five Counties Learning Network.

Torfaen"s leader Councillor Bob Wellington said: "This is a marvellous facility which will offer many important services for people across south west Cwmbran.

"The finished eco-friendly building will be one of only a handful in Wales," he added.

The centre will offer a wide range of adult education classes, and will serve as a meeting place for community groups.