PEOPLE on a Darlington estate are looking forward to a new community centre thanks to lottery grant.

Members of the Red Hall Community Association are celebrating the award of £123,000 from the Big Lottery Fund

It will help pay for refurbishing and extending the Red Hall community centre. The project will cost £566,000 and the organisation is hoping to secure the remainder of the money needed from Sure Start, the Northern Rock Foundation and other sources.

Centre organisers spoke of their delight at the significant cash boost.

Community association chairman Tom Cowan said: "We are thrilled and delighted to be awarded this grant. It is a fantastic start.

"We will continue to work hard to secure the remaining funding and are looking forward to developing the community centre for the residents of Red Hall".

The community association is a registered charity and was first established in 1978. Its committee is made up of local resident volunteers and the present community centre is Red Hall primary school's old nursery building.

About 160 people, both children and adults, attend weekly activities staged by local groups at the centre.

Activities include the Citizens' Advice Bureau drop-in facility, bingo, a baby clinic, line dancing, adult learning, a youth club, play activities and a disco.

The new-look community centre will accommodate a housing office, tool library, drop-in caf, changing rooms, two halls, meeting rooms and will provide an important facility for Sure Start activities.