IT was once used to sort post – now it has been turned into the latest creative hub for Eastleigh.

The Sorting Office, a new affordable workspace for creative industries, launches officially on Friday.

The honours will be done by Red or Dead designer Wayne Hemingway.

Set in the town’s former 1920s Royal Mail sorting office in Wells Road, the new workspace has been adapted to support artsbased businesses and is already home to nearly a dozen artists.

It has 16 studios and work units and a production area to make large items such as theatre sets and sculptural pieces.

Nine artists have already taken up residence with a further two preparing to move in.

They include a children’s illustrator, textile artists, costumiers, a leather accessories designer and a stained glass and mixed media artist.