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Sir Anthony Hopkins has donated nearly Pounds 400,000 to his former college, the Welsh College of Music and Drama, paving the way to a further Pounds 1.1 million National Lottery handout for two new recital halls, a drama performance space, and teaching and rehearsal rooms.

A spokesman for the actor, in the United States at the time for the premiere of the film Nixon, said he wanted to encourage other benefactors to come forward.

The Pounds 1.5 million will relieve pressure on space at the overcrowded college by converting a Cardiff castle mews site into performance spaces.