RESIDENTS who are working hard to breathe new life into an isolated village have launched a project providing cheap fuel to heat the homes of people on low incomes.

Six volunteers will take to the roads in Weardale to cut up fallen timber, which will be used as logs for fires in the remote communities.

The scheme will be run by the Saint Aidan's Trust, a charity formed in Rookhope by villagers and businessmen with the aim of helping to develop new facilities in the former lead mining hamlet.

The trust started by buying the village pub, The Rookhope Inn, which is now run as a non-profit making group that has established its place at the heart of the community.

The volunteers, who run the pub, organise everything from rock concerts to bed and breakfast and adult learning classes at the venue.

Volunteers also meet regularly to explore how they can attract grant aid from different organisations to spearhead new projects.

So far they have managed to put the village back on the map through the annual Rookhope in Bloom competition and have set up a cycle hire business so that visitors can take advantage of the surrounding countryside.

As part of the latest project, pub regulars Anthony Hogarth, Neil Browning, Peter Evea and Barry Bowman have all taken part in a chainsaw training programme.

Along with Cliff Britton, chairman of the scheme, and administrator Dale Anderson, the Weardale Woodmen, as they have called themselves, have been helped with a grant from Bradford-based UnLtd.

A spokesman for the Saint Aidan's Trust said: "Their main activity is to cut fallen timber into useable logs and distribute them to those who are retired or who are on low incomes.

"We are now appealing for fallen trees within a ten-mile radius of Rookhope, which will be cleared and put to good use.

"Once we are up and running the 'Woodmen' are hoping to develop their skills and transform the timber into sculptures."

Anyone who can help with the scheme is asked to telphone The Rookhope Inn on (01388) 517215.