REFURBISHMENT of a Redcar church has been completed thanks to an environmental fund grant.

The Zetland Park Methodist Church, built in the 1930s, needed work to bring it up to modern day standards.

It had no disabled access and did not meet food safety and health and safety regulations.

The church was given £9,183 to finish the work from Biffaward, a multi-million pound fund which utilises landfill tax credits from Biffa Waste Services.

The church has now been upgraded ensuring it can be used by more people.

The Reverend Jonathan Hustler said: "The grant from Biffaward has enabled us to carry out much needed work on the premises, increasing the potential for use by the community, making the church more inviting and accessible to all."

The money from Biffaward has been used to refurbish and enlarge the church's kitchen, renovate toilets, rewire electrical supplies and replace the heating system.

Martin Bettington, of Biffaward, said: "The church provides a valuable resource for the local community."

Under Government regulations, only 90 per cent of any grant can be provided by landfill tax and so the Methodist Connexional Property Committee donated £918 of the final amount.