WORK will begin next month on an £80,000 sports pavilion in Darlington.

The pavilion, at the Eastbourne sports complex, is being built by Darlington Borough Council after consultation with local residents.

Community groups from across the town will be able to use the centre as a clubhouse. It will have a meeting room, kitchen, toilets and a veranda. It will be situated next to the five-a-side football pitches and should be finished by the New Year.

A council spokesman said it was part of the authority's 'Moving Up' drive to improve culture and leisure for people in the town.

He said: "We are responding to the needs of the local community who told us that they didn't have this sort of facility.

"Lots of consultation has gone on with local groups about how we can best use it.

"The idea is that there will be broad use. Primarily it will be for groups in that area but it will also be available to other people across the town.

"It will be modern and purpose-built and will hopefully fulfil what people want."

Local teams can book the pavilion for training and coaching seminars.

Hundens Lane Bowling Association will use the centre during its season.

Eleanor Lister, the council's cabinet member for leisure services, said: "The new pavilion will provide a purpose-built, modern facility for the many sports clubs and community groups in the area.

"The fact that we can build it on the site of the new Eastbourne complex means that we already have on site security through the CCTV system and first class car parking."