RESIDENTS in an area of Hartlepool are being urged to attend an important meeting this week.

The next meeting of the New Deal for Communities (NDC) community forum takes place on Thursday in the Belle Vue Community, Sports and Youth Centre, Kendal Road, Hartlepool, at 6pm.

The forum gives residents in the NDC area the chance to hear about the New Deal projects and plans which are helping revitalise their area.

There are a wide range of items on the agenda, including expanding the Hartlepool United Football Club sponsorship project to include coaching sessions at Grayfields for children in the NDC area.

There are also plans for a project aimed at recycling unwanted household items such as kitchen utensils and crockery for use by other people who need them.

There will be details of the proposed arrangements for the NDC Resident Steering Group elections in September, plus the usual residents' question time.

Free transport is available to and from the meeting by contacting the Hartlepool Voluntary Development Agency on (01429) 262641.