ASIAN couples will be able to marry in Stockton for the first time if a new community centre is given backing from the National Lottery.

A proposal to build a £750,000 multi-cultural community initiatives centre in the Parkfield area of Stockton has been granted planning permission by the borough council.

Some funding for the centre, which will aim to bring the whole community together, has already come from the Single Regeneration Budget but project officials hope the majority of the money will come from a Lottery grant.

Jamiel Bux, a member of the centre's committee, said: "This will be for the whole community, although the management of the centre will be led by the Asian community who own the site.

"We want to bring the community from different backgrounds together. It will not just be for the Asian population."

The centre, which will be built on the site of a former sea cadets building, will be used for sports, youth clubs and IT training, and it will also become the first place in Stockton available for Asian weddings.

Mr Bux said: "Usually, Asian couples have to go to Middlesbrough or Thornaby to find the sort of facility needed for a wedding.

"This will be the first centre of sufficient size for our community weddings in Stockton."

If the Lottery grant is given to the project, it is hoped work on the centre will start next year and that it will be opened in two years. As well as creating a community focus for the area, it is hoped that the centre will improve the look of Parkfield.

Mr Bux said: "There is a real need for a centre like this in the Parkfield area.

"It will be the first time we will be able to get sense of community spirit in one building.

"We demolished the building that was on the site and since then the area has been used as a dumping ground.

"The new building will make the place look a lot more attractive, and hopefully people will take pride in it."

If the centre is built, the main function room will be used for weddings between Thursdays and Sundays and will be available for the rest of the community from Mondays to Wednesdays