A TOWN centre church has set up an action group to increase its role in the community.

The congregation and clerical team at St Cuthbert's church in Darlington have launched a project called Our Future Together.

The aim of the project is to make the church, in the town's market place, more accessible and inviting to visitors.

A spokesman for the church said: "Despite being one of the oldest places of worship still in existence in Darlington, St Cuthbert's has witnessed a decline in people looking round and attending services.

"Our Future Together is a look at how the church acts in the community and how it relates to non-churchgoers in the vicinity."

Church officials have already identified a need to publicise the church's rich heritage in a bid to encourage more people to visit it.

They are now looking at other ways to promote the church,

The spokesman said: "St Cuthbert's affiliation with Darlington has gone back many centuries and this is recognised by the Our Future Together team.

"St Cuthbert's already has a strong role in town life.

" However there are numerous other features of the church that have not been explored - this seems a shame as many Darlingtonians are not a million miles away from St Cuthbert's."

The team are continuing to meet to discuss the future of the church.