A NEW community barge is due to be launched from the Tees Barrage, in Stockton, on Monday.

The Angus Ferguson was delivered as a shell to the St Ann's Partnership, Enterprise and Skill Share Initiative in September 2002.

The project team and volunteers from the local community have spent the last 20 months fitting it out.

The barge is named after the original project manager, who died last year after a long battle against cancer.

The St Ann's Partnership works with local residents, linking skills shortages with training needs and existing skills within the community.

It has helped more than 200 people in the past few years to go on to further education and to move into employment.

Greggs Trust, the charitable arm of Greggs plc, has awarded a £30,000 grant over two years to launch the barge.

Moored at the Tees Barrage, the 55ft by 10ft barge has ten berths and will travel upstream to Yarm.

"The idea for the barge project came from a group of local women who had attended a team-building course on a barge in the Midlands in 1998," explained co-ordinator Iain Fishburn.

"The building and fitting out, which has all been undertaken by the local community, has given them an opportunity to learn new skills, such as woodwork, plumbing, boat handling, barge and glass painting.

"It will be used primarily for providing educational and training courses, some of which will be residential, but it will also be available for recreational opportunities for local residents."

Jenni Wagstaff, manager of Greggs Trust, said: "We have supported the St Ann's project for a number of years now with grants for its core running costs.

"I have watched the barge project develop and was also lucky enough to be invited on board for its maiden voyage.

"The barge project has enormous potential and I feel it will be a big success."

The barge will be operational from Monday and bookings are now being taken.

For more information, tel 01642 674 717.