TOP international mountaineer Alan Hinkes opened a massive extension to a rock climbing club's facilities yesterday.
Peak conquering Mr Hinkes, who lives near Richmond, North Yorkshire, is a regular user of the facilities at Rock Antics, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
He was joined by representat-ives from the Army, RAF, police and local schools, among others, for the ceremony.
The extension measures almost 400sq m and takes the overall size of the walls at the club, which is based at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, to more than 1,000sq m.
Mr Hinkes performed the ceremony alongside Sedgefield Borough Council's deputy mayor, Councillor Dave Newell. People with special needs from the town's Pioneering Care Centre gave a display of rock climbing.
Since the extension was completed, it has already been used in a national competition for scouts.
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