IT WAS a precious place, the happy house where hard-working mining folk went for a few hours' entertainment.

But the Pavilion - one of the grandest buildings in Stanley, County Durham - which first opened in April 1923, is being reduced to rubble by a demolition crew.

In its place will be built a £865,000 Co-operative funeral home, which is expected to open in July.

Local historians and older members of the community have been casting their minds back to the days when the Pavilion, which held more than 1,000, was the cinema, concert hall and boxing arena.

The cinema closed in 1966, but the building was used as a bingo hall for many years before being turned into an Italian restaurant.

It is thought that the old cinema projector was left behind in the building, because it was too big to be taken out, and the Pavilion was eventually converted into a car discount centre, in 1984.

The building was constructed by the Craven Brothers on the site of Stanley House, a large private home, built in 1868.

Amateur historian Bob Drake said: "I remember I used to go the Saturday matinees and they would have a competition where if you sang a song you might win bits of prizes," he said.

"Sometimes, when the film was no good, the organ would strike up and we would all start singing again. It was great fun."

The new use for the site will be in complete contrast. The funeral home will replace the Co-op's premises in High Street, which need repairs.

The Stanley site is one of four developments by Co-operative Funeral Services in County Durham, representing an investment of more than £2m