A SELF-HELP organisation which has brought a £1m investment to an east Durham village, is now facing an uncertain future.

New Thornley Partnership, which has successfully attracted the substantial funding to help the renaissance of the former mining community, desperately needs more helping hands if it is to carry on.

It is ten years since local resident and now district councillor Greg Wharrier joined forces with Thornley Parish Council to form the village's Regeneration Group.

With its pit closed before neighbouring coastal mines, Thornley became increasingly isolated and rundown in its rural backwater.

But with the tireless support of the group's treasurer, Joyce Unsworth, financial secretary Pat Madison and a band of other volunteers, hundreds of letters were sent out in a bid to secure funding to carry out improvements.

The organisation changed its name to the New Thornley Partnership, and hundreds of thousands of pounds were secured for work in the village.

The community saw its village green transformed, road-calming measures introduced, works of art installed at strategic vantage points and unmade roads brought up to modern standards.

Even the community's tapestry group was helped, and now provides works of art for organisations all over the region.

The partnership, which still has projects under way - including the provision of a mini sports centre - has, however, suffered a double blow with the resignation, through work commitments, of both Mrs Unsworth and Mrs Madison.

"We desperately need more people to come forward to help, otherwise we may have to seriously consider winding up our activities,'' said Coun Wharrier, whose wife, Margaret, has also been a stalwart of the group.

Coun Wharrier said that money could only be secured for projects where a need and a desire by residents could be upheld.

And the organisation is now appealing for local residents to unite behind the project, if further improvements are to be carried out in the village.

For while current schemes will be completed, a cloud is hanging over the partnership's future. Anyone who can help is asked to contact Coun Wharrier on (01429) 820285.