THE Lord Nuffield Club, formerly Morris Motors Athletics and Social Club, has taken formal possession of its new 30,000 sq ft clubhouse, which cost more than £4.5m to build.

The club has already taken on 12 staff, including manager Brian Hirschfield. Now it is looking to recruit another 23 including chefs, bar and kitchen workers, and some sports trainers.

Club secretary Michael Kelly said: "The new clubhouse will be open for members to use by Friday.

"The change of name reflects the fact that this is now a community club with membership open to all - not only to those with connections to the motor industry."

Developer Eddie Costello, of Chesside Homes, said: "There is a good management committee in place now with whom I can work.

"They have a good business plan and Oxford has a sports club for the community to be proud of.

"We are building a total of 17 houses and 44 flats on some of the club's former site, but the new club has all the facilities that the old one had."

So far Chesside has completed 23 flats and six houses, of which six flats are for social housing. Flats will sell at an asking price of about £250,000 and houses at about £350,000.

Social membership starts at £16 a year. Full gym membership is £48 a month.