A FORMER Salvation Army hall has been transformed into an activities centre for families.
The old hall in Eldon, near Bishop Auckland, officially opened as a Sure Start Centre for the Dene Valley villages.
Families have worked with staff to devise a programme of activities which has already started, including a health drop-in on Wednesday mornings.
A toddler group, art and craft sessions, a cookery programme and other activities are being developed.
Sure Start Wear Valley East, covering Willington, Wheatbottom, Helmington Row, Coundon and Coundon Grange, is one of two programmes running in the district and one of 14 in County Durham.
Programme manager Fiona Callaghan said: "This centre is the first of four which we are planning across our area.
"It gives parents a venue to access general and specialist services for their children and for themselves on their doorstep.
"We have worked with parents and Dene Valley Community Partnership to ensure that local people are involved in this exciting development."
For details on Sure Start Wear Valley East call (01388) 746740.
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