VILLAGERS are launching a bid to find funding to bring their meeting place into the 21st Century.

Middridge Village Hall, between Shildon and Newton Aycliffe, is in need of a complete refurbishment and villagers are hoping that bids to the National Lottery and other charity organisations may help them with the task.

Since it was opened in 1978 the hall has been well used by people living in the close-knit community.

But in recent years its facilities have started to decline and are in need of modernisation. The work could cost in the region of £200,000 for things such as a new roof, kitchen and boiler room.

Some of the work has already been started thanks to a grant from the Awards for All Scheme and fundraising by the villagers, which paid for new windows.

Treasurer of Middridge Village Association Doreen Sadler said that a refurbishment fund had been set up and money raised had meant that a new kitchen could be installed. Mrs Sadler said: "We had to do something about the kitchen sooner rather than later because the facilities were a bit outdated.''

Mrs Sadler said that the Association was now working with CAVOS, a voluntary organisation for the Sedgefield area, and Durham Rural Community Council to try and put funding bids together.

She said: "It is quite a difficult job. There is all sorts of criteria that we have to meet and because we are not classed as a deprived area this is even harder."

She said that she would appeal to businesses who have links with the village to come forward with either donations or help with the work.

She added: "We have done a survey in the village to see what villagers want and we have had a good response. We want the village hall to be a place that everyone in the village can be proud of."