A £6 million scheme was unveiled yesterday to upgrade and expand a market town's biggest public building to make it suitable for all sorts of activities.

The plans will revitalise the 150 year old Witham Hall, which looks imposing in the centre of Barnard Castle, Co Durham, but is badly run down.

A bid is to be made for Lottery funding and other grants to pay for the ambitious project, which has taken more than three years to prepare.

If all goes well, and planning consent is given by Teesdale District Council, the new-look hall will be ready for local organisations to start using early in 2006.