A TOWN allotment association plans to build a meeting room and office after landing a £5,000 National Lottery grant.

Paxton Street Allotment Association, in Ferryhill, will use the Awards for All cash to buy a secure recreation unit to host meetings, for use as an office, storage space and a place where members can enjoy refreshments.

Paxton Street Allotments was the first of Ferryhill Town Council's allotment sites in the town to become independent.

Secretary Peter Craggs said: "Since going self- managing, we have been given lots of support by Ferryhill Town Council, who even checked over our grant application form for us to make sure we were successful.

"We now have a true partnership with the town council and will continue to work together."

The council plans to work with the association to create space for the new meeting hut.