A GROUP of mothers and grandmothers are on track to establishing a young people's facility after securing more than £3,000.

Coxhoe Community Partnership was set up by local women in March 1998 to tackle the problem of a lack of leisure facilities for the village's youngsters.

Its first project was Coxhoe Kids Zone, a play park used by children in a ten-mile radius and for which the group raised £242,000.

After realising that older children needed an area for biking, skateboarding and rollerskating, it decided to embark on an even more ambitious project.

Now it is calling on the community to help it raise the £300,000 required to create Coxhoe Skidzone next to the Kids Zone.

Barbara Hepplewhite, secretary of the partnership, said: "The completion of Coxhoe Kids Zone has supplied us with a focal point for children, young people and parents to meet on a casual basis, but there is still the need for further facilities which meet the needs of teenagers in particular.

"The success of our first project has encouraged us to move on to our second major project - Coxhoe Skidzone, whose name was the winning entry suggested by two children in a competition.

"Our first major fund raising event was a village Party in the Park jubilee event, and since then we have held a tombola, ladies night, and guided walk.

"An adult disco, bike ride, teenage dance night, family disco and Christmas fair are also planned."

In addition to raising £806 the group has received donations from East Durham and Houghall College, the Co-operative Community Dividend Scheme, and Durham County Council's Community Resource Fund.

If plans for the Skidzone go ahead, a large area will be divided into separate zones for skateboarders, roller skaters and BMX rider, mountain bikers, and road safety skills training.

Members of the community are invited to contribute towards the fundraising by taking part in two cycle rides - an 11-mile return journey from Coxhoe to Bowburn and a six-mile return journey from Coxhoe to Kelloe. Both rides take place on Sunday.

For further information, call Elaine Wood on 0191-383 3745