A FORMER 1950s dance hall was reopened yesterday as one of the region's most unusual business addresses.

The Beehive Ballroom, at Lingfield Point, Darlington, has been transformed into office accommodation in a £1.4m redevelopment.

The premises were converted to provide six 2,500sq ft split-level, loft-style offices.

Darlington MP Alan Milburn performed the opening ceremony and was given a guided tour of the site.

In its heyday, the Beehive hosted hundreds of parties and dances, but had been dramatically underused for a decade.

During the past two years, owner Lingfield Investments spent more than £16m in redeveloping the Lingfield Point site into a modern business park. It is now home to more than 30 businesses and about 1,400 workers.