A NEW centre has been built to give people with learning disabilities from across North Durham short breaks.

Durham County Council has spent £1m developing a state-of-the-art complex at Hawthorn House, Newton Hall, to replace the council's former respite care centre in nearby Pity Me.

The building has been designed and built to the latest specification to meet the Commission for Social Care Inspection's standards and is energy-efficient and provides short break respite services for up to eight service users.

The centre, which can cater for people with complex needs, recently welcomed its first guests and is due to be officially opened later in the month.

Four of the bedrooms have overhead tracking that allows guests with severe physical disabilities to be hoisted directly into an en-suite bathroom. All of the bedrooms are en-suite and also have televisions and DVD players.

There is a sensory therapy room, a separate two-bedded emergency unit where clients can stay for up to 72 hours and there is also overnight accommodation for staff as the centre provides a 24-hour service.

Councillor Morris Nicholl, county council cabinet member for adult and community services, said that the centre: "Represents Durham County Council's commitment to the provision of high quality services for people with learning disabilities in a building that is very much part of the community.

"The centre is a credit to all those involved in the project."

The centre's support manager, Linda Turnbull, said: "We had a clear vision of what we wanted the centre to be and the emphasis was very much on the idea of a high quality living environment similar to hotel standards."

The centre supports approximately 100 adults from the Durham, Chester-le-Street, Derwentside, and Easington areas.

The service is funded by the council but guests have to pay a contribution towards the cost of the service.

Council staff worked closely with Niven Architects, of Darlington, which designed the building.

Ms Turnbull said she enjoyed being involved with the building's design, adding: "Now we have a fabulous centre that feels like a hotel but meets the needs of our clients and their families."