A CHARITY that helps impoverished families to furnishing their homes is itself looking for somewhere to live.

County Durham Furniture Help Scheme (CDFHS) has outgrown its base in Chilton and is looking to expand.

Plans to occupy the Southerne Club, Newton Aycliffe, which closed last summer, have fallen through meaning the expansion is now on hold.

Chris Palmer, managing director, said: "The CDFHS had put a lot of time, effort and expense into applying for the Southerne Club premises so we were greatly disappointed at the outcome.

"When the CDFHS received planning permission for the use of the Southerne Club Premises, we were overjoyed.

"We then contacted our solicitor who informed us that the heads of terms were detrimental to the charity.

"We had been negotiating to get them altered to more acceptable terms, but there was still some points the owners and estate agents refused to alter.

"We then talked to our business advisers who agreed with the solicitor not to accept the lease."

CDFHS started in 1970 and helps about 9,000 families each year by recycling unwanted furniture and household goods to sell at low cost.

It currently operates in a 6,000sq m warehouse but Mr Palmer said they need twice as much space.

In addition Mr Palmer hopes to put three more vans on the road and establish a number of shops and agents across County Durham.

For more information, or to support the charity, visit its base at Unit 20, Avenue 3, Chilton Industrial Estate, or go to cdfhs.co.uk.