A SEA cadet group is celebrating after it was given more than £160,000 by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

The money will go towards the refurbishment and extension of the Donald Owen Clarke Centre -the Sea Cadets' premises in Chester-le-Street.

This latest award follows news in December that the Big Lottery Fund was to provide £106,000 towards the project.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones said: "The Chester-le-Street Sea Cadets are a very active organisation and have repeatedly been recognised as one of the top sea cadet units in the country.

"As well as that, they contribute a great deal to the local community.

"This latest grant award is great news and I must congratulate the unit on working so hard to secure the funding needed."

Linda Radcliffe, the group's treasurer, said: "The extension to our premises, made possible thanks to this funding award, means we will be able to get more people involved and also offer a wider range of training opportunities.

"We have had an open space where we store our boats, but have suffered from crime and vandalism. What we want to do is provide more facilities and open up them up to the wider community."

Ms Radcliffe said the extended premises would also provide space for workshops. She said: "We do all our own boat maintenance with our skills, which keeps our costs down."