TWO South Durham community projects have helped celebrate a £1m milestone.

Cockfield Youth Group and Working With Waders, in Rookhope, Weardale, both received grants from a small projects fund which helps small-scale and voluntary regeneration projects in rural areas.

The fund has supported 376 projects from Rural Priority Areas to a total value of £1m since it was set up in 1990.

Members of the two groups attended a celebration presentation at Cockfield Community Centre on Saturday.

Following a feasibility study of the village recreation ground, Cockfield Youth Group was awarded £480 towards the cost of building a covered seating area where young people can meet.

Working With Waders was granted £915 to help set up a village trail using Rookhope's wildlife as the theme.

Children from the village primary school, villagers and youth club members were involved in the design of tiles marking the trail.

Two seminars have been organised by Durham County Council, the Countryside Agency and Durham Rural Community Council, so that other groups can learn more about the fund.

The first will be at the Durham Dales Centre, Stanhope, on November 28, at 9.30am. The other is being arranged in east Durham during December.

The seminars will include material about a Vital Villages Programme and the Small Grants Fund available through Rural Transport Partnerships.

For details call Kirstie Dennis, at Durham County Council, on 0191-383 4355, email kirstie.dennis