PEOPLE in Bishop Auckland have been given their first glimpse of what a new £1.2m community centre could look like.

The Four Clocks Project is moving ahead rapidly now that Bishop Auckland Community Partnership has raised the £1.2m to convert the former John Wesley Centre into a caf and community centre.

Yesterday, architects plans went on display at Bishop Auckland Methodist Church.

The extent of support for the scheme from community groups was clearly demonstrated, with almost 30 local groups, including Wear Valley Women's Aid, Bereavement Support and Age Concern, expressing an interest in moving into the Four Clocks centre in Newgate Street.

The three-storey centre is an integral part of Bishop Auckland's Single Regeneration Budget plan.

Durham County Council has provided a youth worker for the project, and the partnership will employ another worker full-time.

New facilities, including a shoppers' creche, are planned, plus a caf to encourage more visitors.

Trevor Denham, from the partnership, said it did encounter some difficulties in converting the listed building, including finding a suitable site for the memorial stones. But he said the result would be a modern resource centre for people from the Bishop Auckland area.

But the work to launch the centre is not over yet, because volunteers and money are needed to keep it operating after its first year. The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has given £250,000 to the project, the National Lottery Charities Board £400,000, the Esmee Fairbairn Charitable Trust £251,000, and the Tudor Trust £100,000, with £125,000 coming from the Single Regeneration Budget.

Four Clocks committee member Jane Armstrong said: "We need some local funding, but it is at an exciting stage for everyone now. We have done the nitty gritty hard graft.

"This is a chance for people to put something back into the community. People might want to help in cash or kind - it might be a business wanting to donate furniture."

If anyone would like to sponsor the project or donate money contact the partnership chairman, the Reverend Michael Thompson, on (01388) 603142.