The Salvation Army has received a £600,000 boost for its new £2.5 million community centre being built in the centre of Brighton.

A Hong Kong based financial charity trust impressed with the work and vision the Salvation Army has for Brighton and Hove has handed over a cheque for £350,000. The Army's national body has backed the project with a £250,000 grant.

When the new centre with its distinctive pagoda style roof opens next August, it will be the Salvation Army's pride of the South.

It will be a place of worship and community centre. The building is beginning to take shape in Park Crescent, opposite The Level on one of the largest town centre building sites.

The £350,000 cheque for the new Congress Hall comes from the Bradbury Trust, set up by financial institutions in Hong Kong to provide money for worthwhile projects.

The new Brighton Congress Hall will be a flagship centre for the Salvation Army vital to their mission in the United Kingdom.

It has been a massive fund raising project to ensure the ambitious project is completed but it still needs a further £600,000.

A year ago the campaign to raise funds for the development of the new Centre, asked the community here to Be a Brick for the Salvation Army and Buy a Brick.

The names of the businesses and members of the public who have contributed to the Be a Brick, Buy a Brick Appeal will be displayed in the new building.

Sandie Foster, who is running the appeal said: "The response over this last year has not only shown the high regard the work of the Salvation Army is held in, but that the general public are prepared to endorse it with an investment of funds."

"The response from individual members of the public has been magnificent. We are now looking or more help from local businesses so we can meet our target and get the building up and running by August."

Donations can be made to the Buy a Brick Appeal by sending a cheque made out
to the Salvation Army, Brick Appeal, c/o 13 Friar Crescent, Brighton BN1 6NL or contact Sandie Foster on 01273 279177.