AN £80,000 community pavilion opened for the first time on Saturday. Darlington's Mayor, Councillor Roderick Frances, opened the facility, which overlooks the bowling green near the town's Eastbourne Sports Complex.

The pavilion, paid for by Darlington Borough Council, will provide lavatory facilities, storage areas and a function room, to be used mostly by bowlers in the season, and by the whole community for meetings and family events.

The function room can accommodate 50 people for a theatre-style presentation and about 25 people for a round-table meeting.

There is also an outdoor patio area overlooking the bowling green that can be used during the summer months.

Councillor Lee Vasey, the council's cabinet member for leisure and arts, said: "The new facility will provide welcome additional facilities for the bowlers, especially when they are hosting tournaments with visiting teams.

"Alongside this, the pavilion is there for the whole community to take advantage of for a host of different reasons, and we hope they will share in the celebration of this new, attractive facility."

Bookings and inquiries about the pavilion can be made at Eastbourne Sports Complex on (01325) 243177.