VILLAGERS are being urged to have their say on plans to give their community centre a major facelift.

Langley Park Community Association is hoping to win funding for a major refurbishment of the Church Street Community Centre.

The association is preparing a bid to the Coalfield Communities Regeneration Trust and may seek money from the National Lottery.

The well-used centre is badly in need of refurbishment and a scheme to install computers for residents to use has already won funding.

On Tuesday the association is holding a public meeting to give residents the chance to say what they would like the refurbishment to include.

The association is being helped by the Durham Rural Community Council (DRCC) and Derwentside District Council.

Dawn Gregory, Derwentside Development Worker for the DRCC, said: "The community centre was built in about 1905 and is in desperate need of a refurbishment. It is in need of a serious upgrade. The electrics need overhauling, the central heating needs overhauling and it needs new doors and windows.

"It also needs to be brought into line with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act so that it is accessible by people with disabilities. We are probably talking about £100,000 that is needed for the scheme.

"We are holding a meeting so that people can come along and say what they would like to happen when the refurbishment takes place. We want to keep everyone informed as to what is going on and make them feel involved.''

The meeting will start at 7pm and will include demonstrations by some of the groups that use the centre. All villagers are welcome.