A COMMUNITY hall that has lain derelict for years is to reopen after a £500,000 refit.

Bullion Hall in Chester-le-Street was built in the 1960s, but over the years its popularity declined and it eventually became so vandalised that it was closed three years ago.

Now the Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) has given the Bullion Lane building a new lease of life, after finding half a million pounds of funding for a revamp.

Rooms have been created to provide a permanent base for community and voluntary organisations and people living in Chester-le-Street have access to the improved community hall.

Centre manager Keith Robson said: "It was originally a community building where they had things like tea dances and weddings, but over the years it fell out of use. We only reopened less than two weeks ago, but it's a very unusual concept. It's not a community hall, it's a community building, but with offices for charities to use as a base."

About half the refurbishment funding came from the National Lottery's charities board and the rest from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, One NorthEast and other agencies.

An official opening is expected to take place this summer, but first, Mr Robson would like to find out the history behind the community centre's name and the site and would like anyone who can help to call him on 0191-3871149.