A BOWLING club marked the opening of its new green with a challenge match against its rivals at the weekend.

Newton Hall Bowling Club, in Abbey Road, Pity Me, near Durham, faced off against Durham City Bowling Club and won.

Durham City deputy mayor Councillor Grenville Holland sent down the first jack to start the keenly-contested Durham Villages Regeneration Company Challenge on the green, which has been created next to the recently-completed community centre. It is hoped the inaugural contest will become an annual event.

Coun Holland said: "I was pleased to be part of such a special day for the bowling club, and the wider community, which I am sure will greatly enjoy the fantastic new facilities that have been developed here."

Newton Hall Bowling Club secretary Tony Hardie said: "We are delighted to have been able to relocate our club to these marvellous shared facilities.

"We hope they will enable us to increase our membership by encouraging existing and would-be bowlers to join us for the new season, which begins in April."

Durham City Bowling Club secretary Malcolm Atkinson said: "As one of the oldest clubs in the city - established in 1889 - we were delighted to take part in the first match at the new Newton Hall Bowling Club."

Newton Hall Community Association chairwoman Mamie Simmons, who is also a city councillor for the estate's North ward, said: "We are delighted that the bowling green is now finished and we all look forward to working closer together."

The relocation of the £900,000 community centre and bowling green was made possible by investment from the Durham Villages Regeneration Company, a partnership forged by Durham City Council and Keepmoat plc.

The two organisations have developed more than 600 homes in former pit villages over the past decade, about a fifth for rent or shared ownership and the remainder for sale.

In addition to providing affordable housing for local people and being a catalyst for economic regeneration, the programme has generated profits that have resulted in £18m being invested in community projects such as the bowling facilities and the city's swimming pool and leisure centre, which is to be completed next year.