YOUNGSTERS at an expanding village playgroup have taken delivery of £500-worth of new toys.

A grant from the County Durham Foundation has enabled the West Rainton Mother and Toddler Group to buy toys and equipment to keep its members entertained.

Yesterday, the youngsters, aged up to four years, celebrated with a party in the Jubilee Hall, where the group meets twice a week.

The group, which has between 20 and 30 members, has bought items including a climbing frame, tricycles and a trampoline.

Doris Fawcett, secretary of West Rainton Community Association which runs the hall, said: "We are over the moon. We are a small community association and everything we get we have to raise ourselves, apart from a small grant from the county council for running costs.

"It has made all the difference because the toys the group had were old and had been handed down.

"The group is getting bigger and we felt we had to get them more toys to play with.

"The children were playing with everything."