A BAND of community activists, who started out with nothing but a derelict building three years ago, hope to attract funding to their village.

Committee members of Leadgate Community Tea Rooms have applied for £213,415 in grants from the European Community and the Government Coalfield Regeneration Trust.

If successful, the group will turn the building into an information technology training centre, and will also provide eight jobs in the unemployment blackspot.

Peter Murphy explained what prompted him and his friends to start the centre three years ago.

He said: "Crime was getting bad and old people couldn't walk down the street. We wanted to do something about it."

He said they worked hard to set the centre up and never looked back after receiving £5,000 from the National Lottery.

It has become a recognised learning centre, and is a focus for community activities.

The committee will learn if it has been successful in securing a £96,000 bid for European Community money in October. The decision about the application for £117,413 from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust is due in November.