THE Shak youth centre at Pewsey will soon have one of the best recording studios in the West Country thanks to some generous donations.

More than £11,000 is being spent on installing state-of-the-art recording equipment in the existing studio at the popular youth centre in Wilcot Road.

Through the Pewsey Area Community Trust, The Shak is receiving £8,000 for the project from the Arts Council and £3,000 from a Wiltshire-based charity the Doc Couch Trust.

The Shak's youth development co-ordinator, Ivor Richards, said: "After several months of waiting The Shak studio is to get a major upgrade to provide superb recording studio facilities for musicians young and old."

Mr Richards said The Shak was already known over a wide area for its sporting achievements, in particular its plans for a £1.4 million skateboarding and BMX indoor arena.

He said: "I want people to know that here at The Shak and the wider sports centre (the adjacent leisure centre and pool which he manages) we are just as committed to an arts programme as to sports."

The new studio will be one of the best in the region with 24 track hard-disk recording together with associated IT hardware and new instruments.

The centre has trained up its own studio manager, Ian McGuffog, 17, from Collingbourne Ducis, who has been involved with The Shak studio since it was first set up two years ago.

Mr Richards said: "It is our intention to fund an accredited training course for Ian so he can offer a wide range of music recording, rehearsal and music technology opportunities to the entire community."

There will be an official launch of the new studio when all the equipment has been installed in cooperation with Bass Connection, the Wiltshire-based flagship youth development music project.

Mr Richards said it was hoped to have a live video link with studios in Salisbury so that young people in both places can share their creativity.

The studio will be available for local bands to hire but will be free for youth groups.