A call has gone out to families to help save their village hall by joining in community activities.

In June, a new management committee took over the running of Byers Green Village Hall, near Spennymoor.

The group is now calling on residents to back efforts to revitalise the village's only community centre, saying they must 'use it or lose it'.

More members are needed to deal with administration and come up with ideas to encourage people to use the hall.

The committee wants to see more people enrol on courses such as computing and Spanish to increase the chance of securing funding.

They also want to increase hall hire and offer activities such as arts and crafts, aerobics and martial arts to boost the coffers and meet the £2,500-a-year running costs.

Two leading committee members are former Londoners Ernie Wild and Ron Forster.

Mr Wild said: "We got involved to feel part of the community. I hope the rest of the village will do the same.

"I don't think people appreciate how lucky the village is to have a hall but they would hate to lose it.

"The committee promises to do its very best to keep it going for the next 18 months but needs more support."

Town and borough councillor for the village Bill Waters chaired the previous village hall committee and knows how vital local support is.

He said: "I will support them as much as I can but local people need to get involved and use the village hall.

"The building used to be a Methodist church before it became the village hall, then was extended into the house next door and improved with a new kitchen and central heating.

"To lose it because of a lack of interest would be awful but support from the village is desperately important.

"The sports and carnival committee help keep it going but are themselves struggling. In six years, we've had no new members join despite us raising funds to take the village's older people on a trip and providing a Christmas lunch every year."

The next meeting is on Tuesday at 6.30pm.