A MUSIC project for young people in rural Teesdale is facing an uncertain future due to funding difficulties.

The Teesdale Community Resources (TCR) Music Project needs to find nearly £30,000 a year after its funding ran out.

However, youth leaders are confident that if TCR gets permission for a £1.2m youth centre, the project's future can be assured.

The project runs a music studio, recording facilities and employs a music worker at TCR's base at Birch Road, Barnard Castle.

It was set up with an initial grant from Northern Arts, and funding was extended for two years with a grant from the Foundation for Youth Arts.

However, this can only be used for start-up costs and not for the running costs of the project.

The county council is supporting the project, but more money needs to be found by next September.

TCR has applied for permission for a depot at Harmire Enterprise Park, which is being considered by Teesdale District Council, and a decision is likely to be made in the next few weeks.

TCR youth worker Keith Jones believes potential funders are reluctant to part with money until the centre's fate is decided.

He said: "Until we get the new depot, everything's a bit up in the air.

"I'm confident that if we get the new centre, we'll be able to find more funding and develop it further.

"We've just expanded so it can be used by older people and not just young people, which we couldn't do before."

About 250 young people use the facilties at TCR each week, of which 80 use the music facilities.

The music project organised a Big Live Gig last month, attended by 300 young people and featuring ten bands, to showcase its work.

Mr Jones said: "Despite all the wonderful work that we've done and our achievements, it's always the short-term funding that's the problem, and it makes the services hit and miss for the young people.

"What we really need is continuity."

As well as providing all TCR's current activities, the organisation hopes that the new centre would be able to provide training courses in a range of occupations, such as plumbing, bricklaying and computing.

It hopes to fund its development by selling its Birch Road site for social housing.

However, in September, Barnard Castle Town Council expressed reservations over the enterprise park being used for non-commercial activities.