The Lightbox is a culmination of more than 10 years work

The Lightbox in Woking opened on Saturday with an exhibition showing unseen material from Aardman Animation.

Designed by Marks Barfield Architects, the creators of the London Eye, the building is on the banks of the Basingstoke Canal.

The centre will house a range of exhibitions from modern art to animation and local history.

'Stunning place'

Lightbox director Marilyn Scott said: "This is a fantastic and long-awaited day for anyone interested in art, museums, and collections in the South East.

"Woking has been without a museum and gallery for so many years and now its history is on the map and the community at its heart has a stunning place to participate in art and make history for the future."

Visitors to the Lightbox will be able see footage from Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run films.

More than 10 years of work have been put into developing the arts attraction for Woking.

A shop and cafe on the ground floor boast views across the gallery's gardens to the canal.

More than 630 names are etched in glass balustrades that run around the centre's interior.

The Lightbox brand already exists in the town, running arts activities and projects for local people.

The building was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Working Borough Council, Arts Council England, and individual and corporate donations.