District councillors have pledged more than £6m for an arts and entertainment centre in Didcot.

The centre, which will have seating for 300, is being designed for a range of activities including music, drama and dance.

There will be rehearsal rooms, a special exhibition area, and workshop areas for use by schools, young people and the community.

There will be facilities to screen videos and films, including material made by local people.

It is being planned as part of the Orchard Centre, the £35m town centre redevelopment with a new Sainsbury's supermarket, a Woolworths and other shops, as well as flats.

The scheme is also set to include a separate three or four-screen cinema, although South Oxfordshire District Council has not yet secured an operator as a partner to build and run it.

The council overwhelmingly approved a recommendation by the cabinet committee to include £6.3m of funding in its capital programme for the arts and entertainments venue which is being designed by a team including Ellis Williams Architects, Theatre Projects, AAD Acoustics and consultants ArtReach.

But in a recorded vote, the Conservative group on the council opposed the recommendation in favour of a cheaper option for the arts centre.

Didcot councillor and leader of the Labour group, Mike McNulty, said the decision "should help dispel the view that second best is good enough for Didcot".

He criticised the Tory group for suggesting that the arts centre would be built at the expense of a cinema. He said the district council was wholly committed to providing a cinema as well.

Carole Heath-Whyte, cabinet member for recreation, said: "We are planning a wonderful new facility. This will be a place which schools can use and where children can take part in weekend and holiday activities."

Further consultations will include a chance for Didcot people to help decide the name of the centre.