A RESOURCE centre for charities and community groups in Darlington unveiled its new look yesterday.

More than £420,000 has been spent transforming the Church Row Voluntary Sector Resource Centre into a wheelchair-friendly building.

The facility, run by Darlington Council for Voluntary Services (CVS), was opened by Lady Diana Brittan at a ceremony attended by representatives from local groups. The improvements to the building, which houses organisations including Darlington Residents' Panel and SureStart, were paid for with a grant of £427,000 from the Home Office.

The Community Fund has also given the CVS £300,000 of National Lottery funding.

"I think they do very good work here," said Lady Brittan, Community Fund chairwoman.

"The fact that they house other groups here and the fact that it is a resource centre for everyone makes it very worthwhile."

CVS chief officer Kevin Richards said: "The CVS is the main resource centre for voluntary groups in the area. The new facilities are fantastic."