Work has started on an indoor play centre for children in Clacton.

Rascals, a 7,000 sq ft unit, will be at the corner of Telford Road and Brunel Road on the Gorse Lane industrial estate.

It is hoped it will be open in early August and will cater for children up to 12-years-old.

Rob and Karen Mitchell-St Joseph are behind the scheme and run a similar one in Hertfordshire.

In the new centre will be a three-tier play area and a large play space for toddlers.

There will also be a coffee bar for parents to stay and keep an eye on their children. The site used to be a sausage factory and is opposite The Studio gym.

Mr Mitchell-St Joseph said he and his wife started the firm after they took their own children to similar places and could not find anything they liked.

"I got made semi-redundant from a bank and we thought 'let's do something'. We moved to Clacton three years ago and were amazed how many children were here.

"We thought 'let's open another one up here'. It has taken a couple of years but we have finally done it," he said.

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