A NEW music centre has opened in Darlington.

The Forum is the brainchild of David Cox, a businessman passionate about music but frustrated by the lack of facilities for people.

Mr Cox has spent £400,000 transforming a derelict council music school into a centre for budding musicians with space to rehearse, record and perform.

It will also become a live music venue.

Staff at the centre, in Borough Road, will provide training for people who want to become sound engineers and lighting specialists.

The former music school's Victorian facade has been retained and inside it opens out like a Tardis.

There is a large caf bar, a live lounge, which doubles as a studio big enough to accommodate a symphony orchestra, with enough room for a 170 strong audience.

There are also four rehearsal rooms where groups can practice, using the centre's instruments and equipment, for about £5 an hour.

There are three recording studios and a mix-down suite that can also be hired by the hour. There are also plans to open the Northern School of Contemporary Music at the centre, staffed by professionals who will host various workshops.

Mr Cox, 43, said: "The idea is to bring people with a passion for music together and provide somewhere they can develop, because at the moment there is no-where for people in this area to go.

"We want it to be accessible to all, for all types of music, from classical, to jazz, folk, country, absolutely everything.

"People are dying for something like this. We have around 200 members already and about 800 others who have registered an interest, of all ages and abilities, and we've only been open a week."

The centre is for members only, with social members charged £25 a year and £95 for adult musicians, or £85 for youths.

It is open from 10am until midnight every day of the year. For more information contact The Forum on (01325) 363135 or log on to www.theforumonline.co.uk