WORK has started on the transformation of the headquarters of the Samaritans in Darlington.

Last year the Darlington branch of the national charity was contacted by 23,000 people, either by phone, letter or by people visiting its centre on Woodland Road.

This was a record number and an increase of 3,000 on the previous year.

Now the branch is set to go on-line. A spokesman said: "At least 91 Samaritans branches are involved in email befriending and Darlington volunteers are keen to become involved in this exciting means of communication with callers.

"Volunteers will need careful training to respond to callers who choose to contact us in this way but once on-line we anticipate that caller contacts will increase even more."

Once the charity goes on-line it has pledged to receive 1,500 emails within three years. The internet link is part of extensive refurbishment taking place at the Woodland Roads centre.

Last year the charity was awarded more than £166,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund.

The money, along with a contribution from the charity, will be used for various projects including making the centre more accessible to the elderly and disabled.

New colours and tactile surfaces will also be used to make it easier for the visually impaired to use the centre.

Once the work is done the charity has pledged to increase calls from the elderly and disabled communities by 30 a year and increase the number of disabled and elderly volunteers to 25 within three years.

Included in the plan, which was revealed at the charity's annual meeting, will be a new parking area outside the building.

The total cost of the refurbishment is £178,345, including money for new equipment and somewhere for the charity to operate from while the work is carried out.

Architects have started the designs and the charity hopes work will start by mid-May with the new centre open within six months.

The Samaritans in Darlington received most of its calls last year in the early hours of the morning and 19 per cent of callers last year admitted having suicidal feelings.

The Samaritans phone lines are staffed 24 hours a day and can be contacted on 08457 909090.

The centre is open from 8am to 10pm or write to 13 Woodland Road.