THE site of a former textiles factory has been selected for a Sure Start family centre.

Sedgefield Borough Council bought the derelict Praxis factory in the Dean Bank area of Ferryhill and demolished it to make way for the centre.

The £584,000 centre will provide a range of services and support for families with children under four, and will include training, childcare and crche areas, and a safe-play area. Work is expected to start in the next two weeks and be completed by May.

The centre will complement facilities at schools in Ferryhill Station and Chilton.

Sure Start officer Carole Dawson said: "The Sure Start team has been in the area for just over 12 months and has been in temporary accommodation at a range of different places."

The council has plans for housing on the remainder of the site, but this has drawn strong opposition from neighbours.