VILLAGERS and regulars are celebrating a £7,500 windfall after social club members won The Northern Echo Pub and Club Community Challenge 2000.

When the test was set for licensees and their regulars, to collect tokens from the Echo and earn the grand prize for a community association of their choice, the region rose to the challenge.

And none more-so than at Hurworth Grange Social Club, housed in a Victorian community centre, set in 14 acres of land, near Darlington.

The building, which has regular club meetings, parish council meetings and classes, is run by Hurworth Community Association, which had its funding cut by about £8,000 in April. As the association struggled to meet its costs, the social club set up collection points, put notices in newsletters and stirred the community into action. The result was an incredible 11,832 tokens, which flooded in.

The club now receives £2,500, to celebrate with as it pleases, on top of the £5,000, which goes to the association.

Hurworth Grange manager Ian Fletcher, who is also a joint licensee at the club, said: "It has brought our plight to the attention of the villagers and I think they have all rallied round, seeing this £5,000 as a means to closing that gap to the £8,000.

"It's been a really tremendous effort from all the villagers."

The association's share of the money is expected to be put into a general fund to look after the building.

Although there will be a party to celebrate, the club has yet to decide what to do with its share.

Ian was over the moon when he received a call from The Northern Echo, to saying they had won.

"There was no one else in the building at the time, so I wasn't able to grab hold of somebody and celebrate, but I must admit I did punch the air a couple of times," he said. "It's smashing news."

Social club regulars Eddie Hoy and Sheila Manning were also delighted. "A lot of people want it kept open and it's struggling just now. We need all the help we can get," said Eddie. "I'm pleased, really, really pleased."

Sheila said: "I had all my friends and sisters and relations helping and we just kept taking handfuls of tokens round. It's smashing."

The two runners-up were both from Darlington and each received £1,000 for their worthy causes.

The East End Workingmen's Club helped out Darlington Alzheimer's Disease Society by collecting 7,238 tokens, while the Lascelles pub brought in 5,730, winning £1,000 for St John's School