A new £3m community centre for soldiers and civilians was opened at Warminster Garrison.

The centre replaces a number of portable buildings and a converted Nissen hut, bringing together the Garrison nursery, the welfare support staffs of both the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment and the Land Warfare Centre, and other community agencies.

Major General Robert Kirkland, General Officer Commanding of the 4th Infantry Division, officially opened the building in Firbank Crescent, which will also offer community groups such as Guides, Brownies, dance classes and youth clubs a place to meet.

South West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison was also on hand to plant a commemorative cherry tree, from which the centre’s pre-school takes its name.

Cherry Tree Pre-School and creche, which has 10 members of staff, cares for 41 children.

Deputy manager Liz McGregor, whose husband Mac is Colonial Sergeant at the garrison, said: “The children really love it here. We have our own space, whereas before we had to take all the toys out in the morning and pack them away at the end of the day.”

Seini Rabuku came to the UK from Fiji in 2003 with her husband Corporal Phillipe, who has served in Iraq, Kosovo, and the Falklands with the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.

The couple’s youngest daughter Grace, two, has just started at the pre-school while her sisters Esther, five, and Mary, eight, go to The Avenue School.

Mrs Rabuku said: “It means a lot because we’ve got everything here. Before we had the creche, cafe and information centre in different locations.”

Sam King, who is wife of Pt David King, says the community centre will help the wives when their husbands are away on tour.

“We have a great welfare team who will be based at the community centre,” she said. “They organise trips and sports days, which helps to occupy our minds when our husbands are away.”

Claire Williams, whose husband Cpl Anthony Williams came back from Afghanistan in April, added: “It’s somewhere we can go when our husbands are away.”