AN arts and theatre company has launched a community enterprise putting items it has collected over more than a decade to good use.

Jack in the Box is a new company that, from September, will hire costumes, props and specialist equipment for use in schools, community groups and for individuals.

It was developed as an off-shoot of Barnard Castle theatre group Jack Drum Arts, which wanted to ensure its diverse haul of outfits and stage props was not locked away in a box room and forgotten.

With £14,000 in grants and support from Wear Valley District Council, Wear valley Development Agency 2D and Business Link, the non-profit venture was launched.

Now all the costumes and equipment are being catalogued and stored in a unit at the Wolffcraft Centre, in Crook, where the group also has a small space to rehearse and an office.

Jack Drum company director Jill Cole said: "It has been a bit of a pipe dream for many years. We felt that all of the unusual costumes and other equipment we have gathered over the years could be of real value to the people in the area. The response already has been overwhelming and has proved that there are a lot of people around who could make good use of our rather strange collection."