DEAF Awareness Week is being celebrated in Warrington by looking forward to when the town's new deaf centre is finally officially opened in just a few weeks' time.

During the campaign week, organisations working with deaf people across the country are trying to improve understanding of the different types of deafness.

And when the Wilson Patten Street centre is up and running it will be a centre of excellence for the deaf community.

Louise Dolan, of the Deafness Support Network, said: "The project is due for completion in mid to late May and plans for moving back are now being discussed.

"Staff are now looking forward to getting settled in their new offices because some of us have been working from temporary headquarters while work was being carried out. It will be good to have a permanent base again."

She also said that proposals are coming together for open learning centres, which will be opening in Northwich, Chester and Warrington.

Louise added: "They will provide a fantastic facility for deaf and hard of hearing or deafened people to use our connection with Learn Direct and do online courses.

"The centre itself will be unique in the UK. The different deaf associations there will provide a wide variety of facilities and services to the local community."