INSPIRED by the success of television's Changing Rooms programme, teenagers at a youth club are transforming a village hall.

Several weeks ago, members of Kirk Merrington Youth Club set themselves the challenge of creating a quiet haven in the village community centre where they could relax with their friends.

With the help of youth worker Andy Coulthard, they have been busy finding funding for the work.

With the help of a £50 grant from Spennymoor Town Council, they bought paint and about a dozen youth club members painted the room.

Now the youngsters are waiting to see if they have secured a £700 grant for furniture from Durham County Council's Youth Development Fund.

Andy said: "It is not just involving decorating skills, but it is also life skills. They have had to work to a budget."