PREPARATION work has started on a £181,000 sports hall for the young people of Stanley.

The development at Oxhill Youth Club, at Oxhill, Stanley, comes less than three years since the clubhouse was destroyed by fire.

Lottery agents Sport England gave £142,000 towards the hall, which will have first class table tennis facilities.

The bid to Sport England was supported by the English Table Tennis Association and young people of all levels from across the area will be able to use the hall for table tennis.

Oxhill Youth Club was rebuilt in a separate development after a fire in September 1999. People of the town donated £53,000 to have a new club hall built and the new sports hall will be constructed behind it.

Alan Westwater, leader of the club, said: "We are extremely pleased and wish to thank everyone who has helped us succeed. We've nearly raised our share of the cash and building began last week. We just have to make one last push to raise our share."

Oxhill Youth Club will hold its summer fair on Saturday. There will be five-a-side, face painting, stalls and all the usual fun of the fair.

Money raised at the fair will go towards building the new sports hall.

The club first received permission to build a sports hall in 1996 but have changed the plans slightly and submitted a new planning application to Derwentside District Council.

Councillors have been advised to accept the new proposal which will be discussed on Thursday, July 18, at Consett Civic Centre at 2pm.