Residents in Middlesbrough are celebrating the opening of a community centre on the site of a former convent.

Tees Valley Housing Group (TVHG) demolished the old gatehouse to the site in Marton Road and replaced it with The Lodge, a £113,000 purpose-built facility, to house community meetings, events and activities.

Councillor David Budd, executive member of Middlesbrough Council for Regeneration and Culture, conducted the opening of The Lodge, joined by residents who will be using the facility.

The running of the community house has been handed over to 180 of its residents in Middlesbrough.

TVHG spent two years meeting residents and conducting consultations, leading to the decision to regenerate the site, which will be run by a new residents' management committee.

The facilities will benefit residents of TVHG's Old Convent Gardens development, and those living at the nearby Farndale Court and Alberta House complexes.

Half of the cost of the development was raised through the European Regional Development Fund, which has also contributed £10,000 towards the total revenue cost of The Lodge for the first 18 months it is open.

Alison Thain, chief executive of TVHG, said: "We have worked very closely with the residents of our homes in this area and The Lodge will offer a valuable community facility, as well as providing an attractive replacement to the old gatehouse, which originally stood on the site."

Coun Budd said: "This redevelopment is a testament to the public consultation process and shows what can be achieved by working with the people you are providing for."