EFFORTS to fund building work to make a town centre church more accessible to the whole community are gathering pace.

Ferryhill Methodist Church hopes to raise about £210,000 to redesign the worship room, improve disabled facilities, create a new kitchen and install a glass front door.

Members hope that if they can raise at least half of the cash they will secure grants from local and national bodies to meet the shortfall.

Fundraisers have gathered £54,000 for the Building Together project and need another £1,000 to start the first phase of alterations.

Minister, the Rev John Bower said: "This project was first started in the late 1990s but finding the momentum to keep raising money has been difficult.

"The plans have changed over the years but now we feel we have plans that will not just be a cosmetic facelift.

"We think it will make a more effective space for worship and strengthen its role in the community.

"People need to feel it is their Methodist Church and feel able to come in and use its facilities.

"It is exciting to get closer to starting but we still need more support to see the whole scheme through."

The church held a flower festival based on the theme Ferryhill Past and Present recently to help with the fund-raising efforts.