A FORMER council house is being transformed into a community centre, thanks to a £20,000 grant.

Derwentside District Council is leasing one of its bungalows in Acton Dene, East Stanley, to the Stanley Hall Community Partnership.

The partnership is converting the property into a small community centre, funded with the grant from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Partnership committee member Rosemary Robson said: "Stanley itself has plenty of good facilities like this, but there was nothing in the Acton Dene area and we felt this was where the money should go.

"Derwentside District Council was kind enough to lease us the bungalow and it has all just gone on from there."

Council leader Councillor Alex Watson said: "We are finding throughout Derwentside that communities are taking some of the responsibility on to themselves to look after their neighbourhood.

"This hard work and commitment is laudable and something we want to foster."

Workmen have spent five months turning the house into a one-stop shop for community services, with access for people with disabilities.

Residents will be able to meet local police, council housing officers and staff from the local credit union.

It will also include computer facilities for the blind and visually impaired and a cultural information point, offering details of events and sites of interest in the area.

The centre will be available to people in the East Stanley area, from Wear Road to the Burnside Estate.

Next month, the partnership will send a newsletter to every home in the Stanley Hall ward, announcing the opening of the centre.

The group is also looking for more members to join its committee.

Anyone interested in joining the partnership can contact the secretary, Claire Vasey, on (01207) 280325.