Some dales communities have chosen to take their future into their own hands. At St John's Chapel's Barrington Hall, for example, a cinema and theatre project is backed by £300,000 of Lottery cash.

Wolsingham School and Community College is earmarked for a community sports hall, replacing some of the leisure facilities withdrawn in council cuts.

It offers technology training at its £250,000 computer centre and Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant is backing its bid to set up a centre for excellence in the arts and theatre.

Young members of Stanhope Community Centre have helped redevelop and expand in the town hall premises.

And at Rookhope, residents have shown what can be done by reopening their local pub and offering a lot more than good beer. At the Rookhope Inn you can borrow a bike, learn to use a computer or join a nature project.

Chris Jones, secretary of the St Aidan's Trust which raised £250,000 for the pub, says the dale's strength lies in its people.

He said: "Projects like this are all about self help. The people here are worth walking to the end of the world for."