A VILLAGE community centre is opening its doors for a week of festivities to promote itself to potential users.

The management committee of Sherburn Hill Community Centre is holding events, starting next Saturday, to coincide with a visit by Durham City Arts' DY2K marquee that will host various activities.

Committee secretary Kathleen Brown said: "We want to do something to help put the centre on the map.

"We want to encourage people to use the centre and also help foster community spirit in the village.''

On Saturday, between 1pm and 7pm an exhibition of old photographs of the village will be on show for the week. There will also be a slide show and talk by photograph archivist Michael Richardson, of Gilesgate, who has produced several books about Durham.

On Bank Holiday Monday the centre will hold a fun day, from noon to 4pm, featuring stalls, face painting, tombola and refreshments. It will be followed by a bingo session at 7.30pm for players over 18.

The following day the centre will be open from 1pm to 4pm for refreshments.

In the evening a three-way quiz, between teams from the centre, the Burley Lodge pub and the village's Working Men's Club, will be held at 8pm.

A quiz will be held at the Burley Lodge on Wednesday and at the club on Friday.

On Saturday The Weardale Sound, an accordion duo, will be playing for pensioners from 1pm.

The management committee is also working on an event for Saturday, September 2.

Meanwhile, it is launching a club for enthusiasts of Country and Western music, featuring County Durham singer Andy Brown.

The first session will be on Tuesday, September 19, between 7.30 and 11.30pm. Admission is £2 and includes hot dogs and hamburgers.

For details of the club and the week's events, call Mrs Brown on 0191-372 0024