In the middle of the South Durham coalfield, West Cornforth was one of the first mining communities to lose its colliery.

But while recovery as been slow in arriving, it is definitely on the way, as Chris Fay reports.

HOW West Cornforth came to be known as Doggie has puzzled people for many years, but the origin surely lies in its industrial heritage.

In 1867, when the Rosedale and Ferryhill Iron Company sank its pit, the top seam of the iron stone was called the dogger.

Also, the iron foundry in West Cornforth once produced fire iron supports known as dogs. Later, an iron spike, or dog, was used in railway sleepers. The industrial association continued when, in 1879, the Thrislington Coal Company began mining, a process that continued until 1967.

But 100 years after the focus of the village first moved from agriculture to industry, mining in West Cornforth came to an end.

"It was a very different situation here compared to some of the other collieries," said former miner Bob Bowerbank.

"The colliery closed before the miners' strikes and a lot of the lads who worked here went to work in other pits.

"It was a difficult time and many of the miners who were offered work elsewhere lost their jobs anyway as more pits closed down.

"The mining industry was a massive part of this community and others like it. It left a big gap to fill."

In the years that followed, Government policy seemed to do little to help fill the void and the local economy dwindled.

West Cornforth was also gaining an unwelcome reputation for anti-social behaviour.

The situation reached an all-time low when three police officers and two community support officers were targeted in a firebomb attack in August 2004.

Media attention was focused on the village again when a mother-of-two claimed that crime and disorder was so rife she planned to raffle her home.

The national press dubbed West Cornforth "the village of hate".

"There were some very dark times, but I think we're over the worst of it," said Stephen Drew, local GP and chairman of Cornforth Parish Council.

"A lot of the people who live here see what has happened in areas like Chilton, Ferryhill and Spennymoor, and think it's our time now.

"These areas have their problems, but are getting on with it and making improvements, just as we must.

"The village has to realign itself, it has to become a better place to live and attract younger families and incomes.

"People will most likely have to commute outside the village for work.

"But we need to offer the kind of housing that people actually want to live in these days."

Dr Drew's hopes for the village are being realised as proposals to build more than 130 homes have been approved by councillors.

Banks Developments wants to build 121 houses and 12 flats on a five-hectare site currently used as a depot and offices, with further plans expected to be submitted for a second site.

"The new housing development is just what we need round here, but the village doesn't deserve the reputation it had," said village coffee shop owner Linden Parkins.

"Most of the people who live here are proud of the village and find it a really friendly place to live.

"Yes, there is a lot of work to be done, but then a lot of work has already been done," she said. In 1997, a former butcher shop was bought by Sedgefield Borough Council for the Cornforth Community Partnership.

The building is now the information centre, with a technology suite and video conferencing facility for the use of residents.

It enables villagers to talk to service providers who no longer have a presence in the village.

Cornforth House, as it is known, is expanding into the building next door as part of the Number 66 youth drop-in centre.

And at the main entrance lies the latest improvement to the village.

A pit wheel and tubs from Ellington Colliery stand outside West Cornforth Community Centre, which was built in 1927 as a miners' welfare hall.

The installation has risen from once derelict land and serves as an imposing memorial to miners who died.

Mr Bowerbank said: "There will be younger people who use the community centre and live in the village who won't know how significant mining was to this, and many of the surrounding villages.

"It's important to preserve our mining heritage, but it's important that we don't dwell on the past too much, and move forward to improve the area."