It was hoped that after a six-year struggle with planning and funding, the £310,000 building would officially open in December.

But because of freezing conditions and driving rain over recent weeks, the project has been put behind schedule.

The builders haven't been able to start work on the base of the timber building because conditions have been too bad for concrete to set.

This means the refuge centre in the South Atlantic islands is now hoped to open sometime in January, with a date due to be set a meeting of the Falklands Veterans Foundation this Thursday.

Derek 'Smokey' Cole, chief executive of the Gosport-based foundation behind the project, said: 'The foundations have been laid and the materials all arrived on time, but the weather has just been too bad to set the cement.

'We will get it done as soon as we can, but it looks like it will officially be opened in January now.

'The builders are confident about progress, but we've been slowed down by the weather and just don't want to force it and rush it.

'But I think if we can open in January will be a great way to start the new year.'

The money to build the centre has been raised by tireless fund-raising by the foundation and a raft of grants and donations.

A name has now been picked for the building, which will be known as 'Liberty Lodge' after a competition was run for local schools on the islands to come up with a suitable title.

The veterans foundation is currently in the process of appointing an on-site manager to take care of the centre, which will have three twin bedrooms, a sitting room and a kitchen as well as dining room area.

The final interviews will take place in the next few days and it's hoped someone will be appointed to the role within a few weeks.

It is set to cost £30,000 to furnish the one storey high centre and an estimated £30,000 a year to run the centre from fund-raising, grants and donations.