The opening of a £750,000 cancer support centre in Norwich has been knocked back due to plumbing issues of the refurbished centre.

Norfolk-based charity the Big C is due to open a new facility in Dereham Road, which was made possible by a recent fundraising campaign.

The 'Nearer to Home' Appeal set out to raise £750,000 needed to develop the site.

Eastern Daily Press:

Work has been ongoing at the site for some time and it was due to be open last year - however, issues with the plumbing of the site have now held this up.

Bosses at the charity say "an unforseen problem has arisen with the connection of foul water and waste supply to the mains network" - with arrangements for this out of its control.

However, with this works not able to be scheduled in until May 2023, the facility is not expected to be operational until June.

Chris Bushby, chief executive of the Big C, said: "We are obviously disappointed to be unable to open before the summer, but as soon as possible we will bring outstanding holistic care for those affected by cancer to the heart of the Norwich community.

"A full team has been recruited for the new centre who are deployed currently to bolster services at our other centres until we open in central Norwich.

"We thank you all for your patience."

Plans for the new centre have been in the pipeline since 2019, when the charity launched its fundraising bid.

Ground was then broken on the site in July 2021, with building work expected to take around six months and open at the beginning of 2022.

The new centre is based on the former site of the Blockbuster video rental centre, which has been empty since the shop closed.

It is set to run alongside the charity's centre at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.