CHURCH volunteers hope a flower festival and concert at the weekend will have raised £1,000 towards community improvements.

Harrowgate Hill Methodist Church in Darlington, needs to raise £375,000 to demolish and rebuild its hall, lounge and annexe and provide better access for everyone. At the weekend there was a flower festival in the church, featuring around 30 arrangements by various groups and friends of the church, as well as a concert on Saturday. Helen Hamilton, church volunteer and treasurer of the building fund, said: "We had a really good weekend. We have had lots of people through the doors and all the money raised will go to the building project to encourage more people, especially young people, to use the premises."