The sky is the limit for a group of air cadets near Wolverhampton, which spent six years without a permanent home, after their new £350,000 headquarters were officially opened by a government minister.

The creation of the new base ended years of uncertainty for the Codsall-based 2078 Boscobel Air Training Corps. Members of the 30-strong group lost their old meeting place in Wood Road, Codsall, around six-and-a-half years ago when the land owners decided to sell off the plot.

The group was promised space in another building in Codsall but the plans hit financial problems and never went ahead. They were forced to use the facilities of 1046 Squadron in Fordhouses while the search continued for a site for their own HQ and the cash to build it.

The hunt ended happily with the creation of the new purpose-built base in the grounds of Codsall Community High School, in the first partnership project of its kind in the county.

And the building, which is shared with the school and Staffordshire Youth Service, has now been officially opened by Under Secretary of State for Defence, Kevan Jones.

The new centre, which took five months to build, includes an IT suite, two lecture rooms, a parade room and offices.

Its IT unit was named after Mrs Elizabeth Forster, chairman of the civilian committee which led the fundraising. “My son was taken to this Squadron as a child 30 years ago and I was determined to help find them a new base,” she said.

South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormack, president of the squadron, added: “This is a memorable occasion for us all, especially the cadets who kept this squadron going.”