A SPORTS centre that will train the region's table tennis stars of the future was officially opened this weekend.

The £200,000 Alan Westwater Hall, part of Oxhill Youth Club, near Stanley, County Durham, is the first centre of excellence for the sport in the North.

There were emotional scenes at the opening ceremony, after staff surprised youth club leader Alan Westwater by dedicating the building to him.

Mr Westwater has been a youth worker at the club since it opened in September 1962 and was instrumental in bringing the centre of excellence to the town.

Speaking after the ceremony, he said: "It is fantastic that we are the region's first table tennis centre of excellence as we will be able to host a number of national competitions here, which will be a bonus for the area."

The celebrations included a demonstration from international players Alan Cooke and Bradley Billington.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones, who supported the youth club's bid for lottery funding, cut the ribbon to officially open the centre.

He said: "All credit to the individuals involved, who have not only persuaded Sport England to put money in, but have also done a tremendous amount of hard work in fundraising themselves.

"They have created a centre that is going to be of great benefit to children and young people across the region."

The development marks the latest step in the resurgence of the youth club.

It was razed to the ground in a fire in 1998 but the community rallied round and raised more than £100,000 for a new building, which opened last year.

For the past two years, members of the club have raised money by packing bags at the local supermarket, putting on plays and pantomimes and organising fairs.

They also secured funds from the Peter Harrison Foundation and Derwentside District Council to meet the additional costs.

The main funding for the table tennis centre came from a £141,000 grant awarded by the National Lottery, through Sport England.

Kahaiko Makwela-wali, senior development manager at Sport England, said: "We felt there was a need to sponsor Oxhill's youth club with a better sports facility and this is really a dream come true."