VOLUNTEERS driving forward a market town revival are celebrating a significant breakthrough.

After a seven-year wait, Crook Community Partnership has moved into its own town centre premises in Hope Street, where there will be an opening ceremony this afternoon.

The partnership office is also a base for the town's new action plan manager, Christine Budd, who will work with the group on a range of initiatives.

Projects will be based on ideas put forward at two public meetings called by the partnership, which were each attended by more than 100 people from Crook and the surrounding area.

A resulting appraisal formed the basis for an exploration outlining a range of proposals for economic growth, environmental improvements and community initiatives which will be backed by Government funding.

Partnership secretary David Neil said the office signalled a new chapter in the organisation's life.

He said: "For the first time, we can think big.

"We can look at embarking on significant projects because now money is available where it was not before."

The premises are backed with £5,000 each from the Single Regeneration Budget Community Development Fund and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Community Chest.

An application is being made to the National Lottery for running costs over the next three years.

Since it was launched by police in 1995, the partnership has had several changes of leadership and no regular meeting place.

In spite of this, is has achieved notable successes, initially persuading traders and residents to contribute to a closed-circuit television scheme covering town centre premises.

It backed teenager Christopher Ather's efforts to get a skateboard park at Glenholme and revived Crook's summer carnival after a 20-year gap.

More recently, it has organised an annual display of Christmas lights, which Mrs Budd switched on last Friday.

It was also able to provide a limited service from a temporary base in Signpost's premises manned by Mr Neil's wife, Ruby.

Councillor Eddie Tomlinson will be performing the official opening ceremony today at 3.30pm.