THE Quaking Houses Village Hall Association has won a Queen's Golden Jubilee Award.

A certificate signed by the Queen and commemorative piece of crystal were presented to committee members by the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham Sir Paul Nicholson.

Honorary treasurer Liz Coulson, who has been a driving force behind the project in the former pit village, said: "This is our Everest.

"We started work nearly 30 years ago."

"For the first three years we raised money - collecting 10p a week from residents - to buy a prefabricated building for village hall."

Villagers used the facility for 18 years and in November 1997 opened a new £500,000 community centre, built after landing one of the first National Lottery awards. The centre is used every day and night of the week.

There are groups and facilities ranging from toddlers' clubs to sequence dancing classes. The centre also has a Ladies' Friends Club, a 100-strong youth club, stroke club and provides IT lessons in a 12-computer suite.

Presenting the award, Sir Paul said: "Your group provides a varied and comprehensive range of facilities for the community and is supported and appreciated by all age groups.

"Indeed the majority of people in the community are members - living proof of how much the association is valued."

He added: "It is not an overstatement when I say the village hall is the very heart of Quaking Houses - and it's beating strongly."