A CHARITY has criticised Darlington Borough Council for evicting community groups from one of its buildings.

The Darlington and District Youth and Community Association (DDYCA) has leased the Gladstone Street activity centre at central house in the town for more than 15 years.

The charity leased the space to various community and sports groups, including martial arts, yoga and the town's blind club, at a reduced price.

But now the local authority has given the association until September to leave the building because it wants to expand its youth and community safety service and install 15 police officers in the centre.

Secretary and treasurer of the association, Geoff North, said the groups who used the centre were angry that there was no consultation over the move.

He said: "We have been using this centre long before Darlington Borough Council took over from Durham.

"Most of the groups who rent the space from us have members of all ages who rely on the activity centre.

"We have been given notice to quit so we have had to tell all the groups and many have blamed us but there is nothing we can do. There has been no discussion at all about this - it was totally out of the blue. We are meant to be one of the council's partners."

The charity is now working to help the groups to find new homes, but Mr North claims many premises in the town, including those owned by the council, are too expensive.

He said: "These groups have lost their home. There was a real sense of community in the centre but now they will be spread around the town that will be lost."

He said plans for a computer information centre and a scheme to help rehabilitate drink drivers could not now go ahead at the activity centre.

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said it was essential to expand the successful youth and community safety service which is a partnership between the council and police.

He said: "We have a good relationship with the association but we have to prioritise services and we have had great success with the community safety service. We have to build on these achievements.

"We are working with the groups from the centre to try to find alternative accommodation."