A COMMUNITY association has agreed to buy the last police station operating in Weardale.

Under the deal, the police would lease back a fifth of the Victorian building in Stanhope.

It is believed Durham Police Authority put a low valuation on the building, which contains an old courthouse and police cell.

Stanhope Community Association has three years to raise the purchase price before its 21-year lease on the building runs out.

The association is exploring ways of raising money through Government agencies and the National Lottery.

Billy Hunt, who manages the community centre, said: "We already have many activities, like a youth club and ballet dancing lessons going on in the old courthouse. If we can complete the sale, we can obviously build on this."

At present the association only pays a peppercorn rent for the use of the building.

Durham police spokesman George Oliver said: "We did look at re-siting our operations at the nearby fire station, but we found this would not be practical."

The police strength in Weardale, which includes Tow Law, is one sergeant and eight constables.