A new youth centre named after murdered schoolgirl Claire Tiltman is set to open in Stone.

The building in Cotton Lane will be dedicated to the 16-year-old and used for Scouting activities and the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

Claire, who lived in Woodward Terrace in nearby Horns Cross, was undertaking her bronze DofE award when she was brutally stabbed to death in an alleyway off London Road, Greenhithe, in 1993.

Stone parish council decided to name the centre after the Dartford Grammar School for Girls pupil, after consulting her family and friends.

The facility will finally open next month for uniformed groups after years of delays and unexpected setbacks for the project. It will open to the public in October.

In line with the council’s three-year strategic plan, the new centre will focus on youth and ecology-led activities.

It will provide a dedicated base for the Brent 6th Scout group, which provides sessions for around 150 children per week from age four to 18.

The centre consists of a large hall with a capacity of up to 250 people, seminar room for up to 40 people, and large kitchen with a number of cooking stations and breakout/dining space.

Also included are showers and washing facilities and the building has disabled access.

It has been built to be eco-friendly, with a mechanical ventilation heating and air cooling system, solar photovoltaic panels, and rainwater harvesting.

More than four acres of green space will also be provided.

This aims to create space for outdoor pursuits, as well as enabling the planting of trees, hedges and plants to support ideas for a forest school, community orchard, and bug and bee-friendly features.

Covered bicycle parking has also be provided, as well as two electric vehicle charging points and 29 car parking spaces.

Further use of the centre will be developed over the next few months to enable community hire for eco-friendly social events and weddings.

The council is inviting local residents to get a first glimpse at what it has to offer at the annual parish meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 6.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford