STAFF at a community centre are holding a party for villagers who helped it to scoop a £7,500 windfall.

The party will be held at Hurworth Grange, Hurworth, near Darlington, at 3pm on Sunday.

It has been organised as a thank you to everyone in the village who contributed to the centre, which also received cash from The Northern Echo.

Hurworth Grange Social Club took first prize in The Northern Echo's Pub and Club Challenge.

The win earned the club £2,500 and a further £5,000 for Hurworth Grange Community Centre.

But the club donated its money to the centre to help it through a difficult financial period.

The centre, which is the venue for regular club meetings, parish council meetings and classes, is run by Hurworth Community Association, which had its funding cut by about £8,000 last year.

As the association struggled to meet its costs, the social club set up collection points for competition tokens, put notices in newsletters and stirred the community into action. The result was 11,832 tokens sent in.

Ian Fletcher, manager of Hurworth Grange, said they were overwhelmed with the response from villagers and Sunday's party is their way of saying thank you.

"The money has helped towards the shortfall and refurbished the main hall," he said.

"We hope as many people from the village will come along on Sunday to share in the celebrations."

People are invited from 3pm and there will be a buffet, refreshments, band and disco.