THE new £650,000 visitor centre at majestic Goodrich Castle in Herefordshire has been opened by English Heritage Chairman Sir Neil Cossons.

Sir Neil said: "Goodrich has a rich history dating back to the late 11th century. It boasts one of the most complete sets of Medieval domestic buildings surviving in any English castle. I am delighted to be opening this new visitor centre. We will now be able to present the castle's dramatic history more vividly and enrich the experience of our visitors. We also hope that raising the profile of the castle will make it an asset for the local community of which they can be more proud."

The centre features an exhibition exploring life at Goodrich Castle from its construction in the late 11th century to its dramatic fall in 1646 and includes Civil War artefacts found at the site.