A VICTORIAN church in danger of becoming a ruin could enjoy a new lease of life.

St Luke's Church is all that remains of the large Winterton Psychiatric Hospital complex, near Sedgefield, County Durham, which was demolished six years ago to make way for a housing estate.

The imposing church, a Grade II-listed building, has remained empty since, despite attracting interest from a number of potential buyers.

Businesswoman Chris Moore has taken up the challenge of trying to revitalise the building, which was once an important part of the hospital community.

Ms Moore, who grew up in Sedgefield, has bought the church and hopes to turn it into a health and fitness centre.

A planning application has been submitted to Sedgefield Borough Council, which includes a gymnasium, a spa, rest and recreation areas, treatment rooms and an upstairs studio.

At its height, Winterton Hospital was one of the biggest and most famous institutions of its kind in Europe, with about 2,000 patients.

Ms Moore has vowed to respect the church and what it meant to the people who used it.

She said: "It is making our lovely church a focal point that can be enjoyed by a greater number of people.

"It is essential that the ambience and the atmosphere of the church is retained, and it will be in my development.

"I could not alter the features of it and destroy it, it is just so beautiful.

"It is a memorial to all the people who suffered in this hospital, and I feel privileged to be involved in starting up a centre that will improve people's quality of life."

Father John Caden, who was associated with the church for 38 years, said there had been failed plans to turn the church into a museum.

He said: "I am very pleased that somebody has bought it and is putting it to some other use.

"It has been standing there for several years and I am delighted that she is using it in this way, rather than the thing deteriorating and being pulled down as a danger to people."