WORK has begun on building Gwent’s first dedicated bouldering centre.

Huw Charrington, a former detective with the Metropolitan Police in London, is set to open the centre in a warehouse on an industrial estate on the outskirts of town in August.

Mr Charrington, 34, of Abergavenny, has called in specialist contractors to build a low-level, fourand- a-half-metre high climbing wall made of a timber and steel framework with a plywood climbing surface.

The centre will be known as Aber Rocks and also feature a café, gym area and small shop on Castle Meadows Park in a unit that housed a brewery until recently.

Work began last month and is expected to take up to eight weeks to complete. The former King Henry VIII Comprehensive pupil hopes to open the centre on August 20 and a web-site is due to be launched today.

Mr Charrington, a keen climber for the past 15 years, said climbers currently travel to Trefforest, a dedicated centre. There is also a centre in Cardiff.

Opening a centre in Monmouthshire could attract up to 1,300 visitors, aged from eight upwards, each month.

He said youth groups, scouts, guides, those with disabilities and special needs and schools are among those that would benefit fromthe centre.

Those using the centre would climb a wall that is covered in obstacles for different skill levels without the use of a rope. A crash mat will be in place for safety.

“Climbing isn’t just physical, it promotes problem solving, teamwork and social interaction,” said Mr Charrington. For details, visit www.aberrocks.com