A CAMPAIGN to provide more activities for youngsters in the North Road area of Darlington is moving forward, with two further proposals on the table.

A Darlington church has unveiled plans for a £1.6m meeting place at the former Frank McGuire factory, in Whessoe Road.

Kings Church has met at Darlington College of Technology for 12 years, but is being forced to find a new home prior to the college's move to Haughton Road.

The church was initially to move with the college to the £34.5m site, but there is now not enough space to accommodate the 200-plus congregation.

The church has transferred its offices to the site and wants to open up the building to the whole community.

It would provide a much-needed venue for youth provision in the area.

There are also hopes that the church could link with Longfield School, so the school could make use of two other warehouses at the site for sport.

The whole project would cost about £1.6m. The church already has £230,000 and is in the process of applying for other forms of funding and grant aid.

Church leaders met Trevor Adams, the father of 15-year-old Stuart Adams, who, along with his friend Lee Mullis, 14, was killed while playing on a East Coast main line, in Darlington, on Good Friday.

Ever since his son's death, Mr Adams has been campaigning for more youth activities in the North Road area of Darlington.

The North Road Community Partnership is seeking support for a proposal to turn the Rise Carr Primary School into a community centre.

The school is to close at the end of the year as part of town-wide plans to cope with falling pupil numbers and increase maintenance costs.

Councillor Fred Lawton, a member of the partnership, is appealing for support from the community for the idea.

Anyone who is interested in becoming involved can contact Kings Church on (01325) 469884.