A YOUTH club reborn from the ashes of an arson attack has won cash to spruce up its land.

Oxhill Youth Club, at Stanley, was devastated in the autumn of 1999 when its wooden clubhouse was burnt to the ground.

But a new building, which cost £133,000, opened its doors last summer, and 150 members, aged eight to 25, enjoy activities there seven nights a week.

Now, County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT) has given the club £1,155 to reinstate a lawn, shrubs and paving stones. The club also hopes to use the money to encourage gardening and wildlife projects in its grounds.

Youth club leader Alan Westwater said: "The grant will make a great difference to the development of our club."

The grant is the 100th small community grant given in the past two-and-a-half years by CDENT, which distributes landfill tax to support environmental projects.

The cheque was presented by Councillor Don Robson, leader of Durham County Council.