A COMMUNITY centre that has supported a town for more than 20 years closed yesterday - but should reopen in a new guise within weeks.

The Shildon Centre, in the town's Main Street, has been fighting for its survival since Durham County Council announced budget cuts last spring.

Shildon Centre Limited, which ran the venue, applied for charitable status and announced its independence in a bid to secure other finance.

But its main grant application was turned down so, just two months after taking over the centre, the management committee was forced to call it a day.

Yesterday, the group disbanded and outgoing staff closed the building.

But a new group of volunteers has stepped in to try to save the facility.

The volunteers, who hope to work with the previous group, will rename the venue The Shildon People's Centre when it reopens.

Members are in talks with Durham County Council, which still owns the building, and finalising details such as insurance before it can allow the public back inside.

Colin Devonport, group secretary, said: "We haven't managed to get up and running in time to prevent a temporary closure.

"It is sad it has to close at all, but we're hopeful of reopening in a week or two and would welcome help from former or new volunteers."

Durham County Council has been criticised by residents and town councillors for putting the centre in a vulnerable position.

They describe the centre, set up in 1985 to support unemployed people when the wagon works closed, as more than a building but its staff and services.

Some doubt the new arrangements can offer the same support to hundreds of vulnerable people and groups that relied on its administration, counselling and drop-in cafe.

Mr Devonport hopes the cafe will be one of the first facilities to reopen, but admits counselling and administration services will be difficult to re-establish.

Gerald Tompkins, of Durham County Council's adult and community services team, said: "We are working closely with the group who have expressed an interest in running the centre on a voluntary basis and we hope the talks we have already, and those we have planned, will result in it re-opening under its new guise."