THE Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre will be open today (Sunday, 1 May) and on tomorrow's Bank Holiday Monday from 10am to 3pm on both days.

Its collections are housed in the last surviving gunpowder magazine, a scheduled ancient monument which is Grade I listed.

The displays you will see inside are quite unique, some examples, you will see the Dracula connection to Purfleet-on-Thames, how we used to live and our new Nepalese Gurkha collection. Then you have the Home Guard WWII, the Royal Navy, the Army not forgetting the RAF and the RAF Regiment. The heritage of the Garrison which dates back to 1760 you may find interesting.

There is a tea bar inside where you can get hot and cold drinks to wash down a piece of cake. On sunny days the centre has tables and chairs outside so you can enjoy the weather and a chat. There is a large green that goes up to the Thames and a play area for children.

The centre is situated at Centurion way, Purfleet, RM19 1ZZ on the banks of the River Thames with outstanding views towards London, the North and the Queen Elizabeth II bridge.