A NEW SureStart centre has completed a £2.5m network of support for families in the south of Bishop Auckland.

The town's MP Helen Goodman launched the latest service in Taylor Road, Henknowle, which has assisted up to 200 children a week.

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund, SureStart family centres are already established in St Helen Auckland and Woodhouse Close.

They support families with children under five by providing a safe and creative place for youngsters to play while offering adults training and advice.

At Taylor Road, which was once a community centre for a sheltered housing scheme, elderly neighbours visit twice a week for bingo.

Carol Newsom, programme manager for SureStart Wear Valley, said: "This is the third centre and it completes what we set out do.

"We were originally given £850,000 to build one state-of-the-art building. But when we realised that the three communities each wanted their own separate centre we set out to attract additional funding.

"Now, through the support of Wear Valley District Council, Durham County Council, and Government Office North-East we have spent nearly £2.5m, which is no mean achievement.

"We have further work to do to open up the upstairs floor at Taylor Road before our five year plan is completed."

With the centres established, the next move will be to develop them as SureStart children's centres linking with health, education and employment services to offer a wider range of support.

Ms Newsom said: "One of the strengths of the existing programme is that we encourage inter-generational activities.

"People have really taken to the centres. They see them as an important part of their community, almost as part of an extended family

"They turn to us when they need advice or reassurance about their children's health or about play or learning. Parents have really come to rely on us.

"Some of the younger mums are keen to learn traditional crafts such as knitting and sewing because we don't want them to die out.

"The also want to make a quilt, which will encourage a real sense of ownership."