DIGNITARIES and community organisations gathered at a ceremony to launch a £675,000 centre that will become an important meeting place for local people.

Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, who is patron of the Four Clocks Project, performed the opening ceremony on Friday.

He praised the efforts of volunteers who had brought the ambitious scheme to fruition.

Mr Foster said: "It is a superb building. Wonderful. It has been a tremendous effort by the volunteers who have brought this together.''

The project got its name from the clock tower at the Wesleyan church, in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, which has been turned into a one-stop community facility.

The community resource centre is the result of six years' work by volunteers and a £1.2 m investment in Bishop Auckland.

It will house volunteer organisations and offer a wide range of services, including national and local advice and support agencies.

It will also have a coffee bar, creche, meeting and conference facilities and an Internet caf.

Nine jobs have been created by Bishop Auckland Community Partnership for the venture, and a further three will follow within the year.

Many of the church's original features, including stained glass windows and beams, have been retained.

Project co-ordinator Meg Brown told guests, who included councillors and local business people, that the building was vibrant and praised everyone for their hard work.

The centre will open to the public tomorrow, and an open day is being held on Friday, from 10am to 4pm, for people too meet staff and look around. The coffee bar will be open until 2pm