A FIRST aid charity's building is to be given a new lease of life thanks to a £4,000 grant.

The St John Ambulance centre in Willington received the boost from Durham County Council.

The building houses 13 cadets and 11 adult volunteers, and the money will be used for an extensive refurbishment.

Leading cadet Matthew Todd successfully applied for the funding.

"We have been saving up ourselves, and now we have enough money to do the work," said the 16-year-old, who is Durham's County Cadet of the Year and national deputy cadet of the year.

"We are planning to rewire and refit the building, have two toilets and hopefully carry out further refurbishment. There was strong competition for the funding, so it was great to get it."

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