PEOPLE are protesting that work has only just begun to repair a Darlington community centre which was set on fire more than a month ago.

Joyce Standing told a meeting of the Skerne Park Community Partnership: "We can't find out how long it is going to take, or when we can use the centre again."

Sue Davison, community development worker for the estate, said the centre needed to be ready for use by the summer, for play scheme activities.

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said yesterday that the fire had got into the roof space of the centre, and work to re-roof the building had started this week.

"That should be finished this week, and then there will be two weeks where there will be rewiring, redecorating and re-carpeting work done," the spokesman said.

Local ward councillor Cyndi Hughes said she and estate residents had some concerns about proposed changes to the centre as a result of the fire.

Coun Hughes said there were plans to build a cage to go over the front door, to prevent people getting into the foyer and setting fire to it again.

But she said there were fears that such a device would be a temptation for youngsters to climb.

Mrs Standing said the police were called to the centre on Tuesday night, after children were seen climbing on scaffolding being used by the roofers, and then on to the roof of the centre.

She urged parents to speak to children about the danger of playing near the building.

A meeting will be held on Wednesday, at 11am, in the estate's Chatterbox Cafe, to discuss the work on the centre.

Inspector Sue Collingwood, of Darlington police, said arrests had been made in relation to an alleged arson attack on the community centre and inquiries were continuing.

She said police were seeking Crown Prosecution Service advice on the course of action to be taken.