YORK'S new flagship £7.5 million children's centre is to get a second official opening - this time by paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.

The new Hob Moor Centre will be opened by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Britain's most successful Paralympic athlete, on Monday at 10.30am.

This comes after Patrick Scott, City of York Council's children's services director, and its executive member for children's services, Councillor Carol Runciman, officially open the centre for the first time back in May.

Dame Tanni's visit marks the completion of the new centre, built by City of York Council in partnership with Sewells.

The centre, in Acomb, is believed to be the first in the country to house a special needs school and a mainstream primary school under one roof.

It brings together both schools, a nursery, an extra-hours fun club and a family support team.

The centre includes Hob Moor Primary School, Hob Moor Oaks Special School, the Children's Centre and nursery and many other facilities designed to support families in the surrounding area.

Coun Runciman said: "This visit by Dame Tanni is exciting for all the staff, pupils and their families, and I know all the children are looking forward to meeting the athletics star.

"Hob Moor School is already bringing great benefits to the children who attend, and to the wider community.

"The building design provides a welcoming environment, and is innovative and flexible, which will allow the school to develop in the future."

The children's centre has been built using private finance under a "mortgage-style" deal, through which the city council will contract private firm Sewell Education to maintain, clean and look after the building for the next 30 years.

As well as a school nurse and clinic, there are facilities for physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and a mental health nurse.

The Cherry Tree Nursery is to the left of the main entrance, while the classrooms for both Hob Moor Community Primary and Hob Moor Oaks schools are set out on either side of a wide central avenue, in a building that surrounds all four sides of the playgrounds.

The House, where the family support and Sure Start teams are based, completes the range of services offered.

The family support team, previously based at the Family Centre in Holgate, works with families who have children aged up to ten, and who are struggling to cope with everything from bereavement, abuse and family break-up to drug use.

Sure Start offers a drop-in, toy library and other facilities and activities for families with young children.