A NORTH-EAST commercial law firm has helped a charity build a £9m training centre for autistic children and their families.

Muckle LLP worked with the North-East Autism Society (NEAS) to create the centre on the site of the former Aycliffe Young People’s Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which was owned by Durham County Council.

The centre includes a school with a sports hall and swimming pool, which is already open, and will provide educational services for children of all ages, including vocational courses, after-school clubs and leisure and activity days.

It will be officially opened on World Autism Awareness Day on April 2.

John Phillipson, NEAS chief executive, said: “The team at Muckle liaised with different parties and prepared the construction contracts, so we could begin the groundwork. We are looking forward to providing increased support to families across the region.”

Muckle’s solicitor Adrian Hicks said: “It was a pleasure working on this project, which will make the charity’s services available to many more families.”

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