NEWTON Aycliffe took a step back in time when a mural was unveiled to celebrate the completion of a popular community centre.

Woodham Community Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, has been up and running since 1986, but has been regenerated in the last year.

The work was completed last week.

The centre boasts a new sound system, kitchen, computers and wooden flooring with funding obtained from Sedgefield Borough Council and Durham County Council.

In celebration of the completion, local artists from Woodham Art Group created a hand painted mural which illustrates many images of the town's history.

The mural was unveiled by Chris Lloyd, deputy editor of The Northern Echo, at an open day on Saturday.

Eileen Bennett, secretary of Woodham Art Group, said: "Newton Aycliffe will be celebrating its 60th anniversary soon and we thought a look back at its history would be an appropriate thing to illustrate. The mural shows local farms, train stations, schools and events and took almost a year to complete."

The mural can be viewed in the centre's main hall.