ONE of the country's oldest rowing clubs has a new £1m home.

Durham Amateur Rowing Club, which dates back to 1860 and has more than 200 members, has taken delivery of a new clubhouse, to replace its former home on the city's Green Lane.

The new one-storey building, designed by Newcastle architects Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall, includes a bar with outdoor terrace, a large function room, a gymnasium, a kitchen, an office, an IT suite and disabled access changing rooms.

Its completion marks the end of a seven-year fund-raising and planning effort.

A grand opening ceremony is planned for Friday, September 14.

Club secretary Barry Hudson, a member since 1959, said: "Rowing has been flourishing in Durham for well over 100 years, but the demands of the sport have changed and people now expect first-class training, changing and social facilities.

"We currently store a fleet of some 100 boats, ranging from single sculls right up to the 60-foot long racing eights.

"We realised that we needed a new building to remain a successful club and continue to turn out international standard rowers of all ages."

Durham Amateur Rowing Club (ARC), which hosts the Durham City Regatta, is one of the country's most successful rowing clubs. Its previous clubhouse dated from 1970.

The new clubhouse's IT suite was paid for by the Durham local education authority and the Government, through the Playing for Success scheme. Durham ARC is the first rowing club to be involved in this project, which aims to improve nine to fourteen-year-old children's educational achievements through sport.

The club hopes to extend its boat storage area in the future, funds permitting, and is appealing to local businesses to support its efforts by sponsoring a boat.

Jonathan Hamill, from the club, said: "Durham ARC needs financial assistance to continue its good work and the club can still offer superb corporate sponsorship opportunities.

"The new clubhouse is a community facility and we are keen to extend its use beyond the rowing community and can offer meeting facilities, entertainment facilities and team building activities."

For more information on sponsoring the club, call 0191-386-6431.