A County Durham football ground is set to open indoor training spaces, function rooms and a new bar after receiving a five-figure grant.

The 'South Stand' venue is part of the £1.6 million upgrade of the Beamish Football Centre on Tyne Road in Stanley.

A grant from the Banks Group helped to build the venue which is not just part of Beamish Football Club but also serves as a hub for community events and activities.

Stanley Events, a local social enterprise, will host various activities at the centre, including 'knit and natter' meetings for older residents, advice sessions and one-to-one support services for local young people.

Anna Marshall, manager at Stanley Events, said: "The amazing new Beamish Football Centre is an aspirational focal point for our community and provides a hugely positive context for the work that will go on inside and outside the building.

"We want it to be a central part of the local place-shaping agenda and to set an example of best practise in the provision of multi-use community facilities, and it’s so exciting that the venue’s doors are now open."

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The Banks Group's Community Fund £10,000 grant has allowed Stanley Events to buy outdoor furniture for events and activities, creating a flexible outdoor space for visitors.

The funding has also paid for landscaping and tree planting around the ground, with junior players at the club helping out with the work.

This is the second time the Banks Community Fund has supported Stanley Events at the Beamish Football Centre.

A previous £20,000 grant was provided to improve access to the site and create new viewing areas for spectators.

Lucy Hinds, executive assistant at the Banks Group, said: "The new facility gives them a fantastic opportunity to build on everything that they’ve already achieved and we’re very pleased to be helping such an effective community organisation extend what it can do in our home county."