WELSH Water has purchased watersports company Gwent Adventures as part of its new £2.5 million water sports and visitor centre at Llandegfedd Reservoir.

It will be running the water sports tuition and equipment hire service from the new base when it opens in spring next year.

Community Interest Company Gwent Adventures was set up in 1980 by managing director and founder Terry Scully, but having recently announced his retirement Welsh Water made an offer to buy the Gwent Adventures name and equipment.

Mr Sculley said the sale would safeguard the service.

“Llandegfedd is a great venue for people from all walks of life to come and learn to sail or windsurf, or to just enjoy the countryside," he said.

“I know that Welsh Water have the interests of the community when they made this commitment to a Water Sports centre and Visitor Centre at Llandegfedd.”

Mike Walklin and Matt Philpott, who worked at Gwent Adventures, have now joined Welsh Water to help set up the new water sports tuition and equipment hire service.

Welsh Water estates business manager Tom Packham said: “I am really pleased that we will be able to offer this facility to visitors at Llandegfedd.

“I’d like to thank Gwent Adventures for all their hard work over the years. We’re looking forward to working with Mike and Matt to get things up and running before the opening in 2015.”

The water sports centre will offer opportunities to sail, windsurf, paddle board, canoe and kayak from a brand new training centre with changing facilities, showers and a viewing balcony.

The separate visitor centre will be open to the public and will include a cafe on the first floor with a balcony and views over the lake - this will also provide a base for anglers.

When complete it will be one of the top inland sailing spots in the country, but Llandegfedd Sailing Club fear the interim construction period could have a devastating effect for them.

The club has estimated financial losses of around £5,000 from members leaving, less grants, and other costs, due to the closure of the reservoir while work progresses.

The project was due to be completed later this year but 'adverse weather' pushed the construction schedule back.