A hundred-year-old building is becoming home to new business in an effort to help the regeneration of part of east London.

The Grade II listed Old Poplar Library at Poplar Riverside has been restored and will provide office space for starting and growing businesses.

The Edwardian library was built in 1904 and closed in 1990.

A ceremony to mark the transformation is being held on Thursday.

'At risk'

The building, alongside the A12, is a familiar sight to drivers who use the Blackwall Tunnel.

It fell into disrepair when it closed and was on the English Heritage buildings' at risk register.

The refurbishment, funded by the London Development Agency, the European Union and English Heritage, has retained original features such as mosaic floors and the stone facade.

As well as office space, there will be 337 flats, 74 work units, a health centre, shops and a 60-bedroom hotel on the site.

The �1.1m project was the brainchild of the Leaside Regeneration Project which was set up in 1999 by Tower Hamlets Council.