A POPULAR community centre is marking its 25th year in operation with a major revamp.

Throston Community Centre, in Hartlepool, is being refurbished at a cost of £38,000, with improvements including a new fitted kitchen, a new office, better security, enhanced and secure IT area, replacement boiler and installation of patio doors to provide access to the garden area.

Hartlepool Borough Council, which runs the building, is providing most of the funding, including £4,000 from the minor works budget of its North Neighbourhood Consultative Forum.

However, Housing Hartlepool, the company that runs the town's former council housing stock, is contributing £2,000.

Work on the revamp began last week and is expected to last six weeks.

It is being carried out by Hartlepool-based Gus Robinson Developments Limited.

Councillor Robbie Payne, who has responsibility for the community centre as the council's culture, housing and transportation portfolio holder, welcomed the improvements.

He said: "This building is at the very heart of the community, providing a valuable meeting place for a range of local groups and people.

"I am delighted that this work is being carried out, and the revamp will result in improved facilities that will benefit residents of the Throston Grange estate for many more years to come."

Councillor Rob Cook, chairman of the council's North Neighbourhood Consultative Forum, said: "I am pleased that the forum members agreed to support the revamp of the community centre.

"The minor works budget aims to help fund improvement works at a grassroots level, and this scheme is a good example of that."

The improvements are set to be complemented by proposals to improve the quality of street lighting around the community centre and the adjacent library.