Olympians Kate Allenby and Robin Brew opened the Abingdon School Sports Centre on Saturday with a whirlwind tour of the facilities at the £9m building.

The sports hall boasts the same Taraflex Sports Performance Plus surface which was used at the Beijing Olympics this year, while the swimming pool has a 'wave roof' made from poplar wood with acoustic panels to deaden noise and echo.

Olympic pentathlete Allenby and former British Olympic swimming captain Brew were joined by ex-Arsenal and England international Martin Keown, who lives near Bicester, and former Sports Minister Kate Hoey for the opening.

The new centre, which took 16 months to complete, also includes a sports hall for football, badminton, volleyball, basketball and four cricket nets, plus two squash courts, two fitness suites, a climbing wall and a martial arts and fencing suite.

Further facilities include a room with a sprung floor, mirrors and wall bars and a rowing ergometer suite that overlooks an eight-lane swimming pool.

The sports centre will be used by local schools and swimming clubs.