A CHARITY is throwing a party to celebrate the centenary of the church hall that hosts its activities.

St Hilda's Church Hall, in Parkgate, Darlington, was built in June 1906 at a cost of £680.

A hundred years on, a day care group is planning to exhibit a gallery of its history.

National mental health charity Mind hosts a support group at the hall for people over 65 with dementia.

Tina Simpson, administration and support worker, said: "The place has been a dog centre, a skating rink, it then used to belong to part of the NHS but is now part of Mind.

"We hope people might remember things about the place years ago."

She said the charity wanted to collect memories, archive material and photographs.

She added: "We are going to have a party in June with all our members. Anyone who has had anything to do with the building in its history is more than welcome."

The church was designed in 1886 by John Loughborough Pearson and built two years later.

People can leave items, which will be returned, at the hall or contact the group on (01325) 284139.