THE whole town is invited to the official opening of Sidmouth s Kennaway House in July and people will be in for a treat.

THE whole town is invited to the official opening of Sidmouth's Kennaway House in July and people will be in for a treat.

Joining the line-up of entertainment on the day will be 30 girls from the increasingly popular Diamonds Cheer Squad - Sidmouth's only cheerleading team.

"The girls are really looking forward to it, it is really important Kennaway House becomes a community building," said co-founder and coach of the squad, Rebecca Knight.

"It was such a waste of space and building, keeping it open is really fantastic."

The Regency building, former home to Sidmouth's first MP, Sir John Kennaway, has been transformed, both in name; from the former Church House, and by a million pound refurbishment.

On Saturday it hosted its first wedding and Rebecca is looking into the Diamonds squad using it on occasions too.

"It is something to be enjoyed by the whole community as well as all ages," she said. "I am really thrilled to be asked to the opening.

"We will be doing two sets of demonstrations, stunting and new routines that have not been seen before."

The Diamonds, in their red, black and silver outfits, will even have sessions for the public to join in.

The cheerleading squad has been running seven years and has been gaining both members from all over East Devon and Exeter and a good reputation.

"We are really pleased we are becoming wider known and we are doing lots more events," said Rebecca, who also enters the girls into cheerleading contests across the UK - one important one being in Brighton in November.

She stressed: "We are not majorettes, the cheerleading squad has a style of dance and uses vocals, cheering and chanting and tumbling."

The girls also perform stunting moves, using other members of the squad to make shapes. This will be demonstrated at the July 4 at 2pm and again around 4pm at the official opening ceremony.