WASTE not, want not, is an apt practice for a group of churchgoers at the moment.

A church is to be built for Methodists in Normanby, Middlesbrough - with 90 per cent of the cost coming from a landfill tax grant, a tax charged on waste taken to rubbish tips.

The £51,020 Biffaward grant will allow the community's church and youth centre, both more than 100 years old, to be replaced with a multi- purpose building which can be used for worship and as a community centre.

Patricia Barrett, of Normanby Methodist Church, said: "The church members are eagerly awaiting the new building so they can continue to serve the community of which they are a part.

"The new premises offer enormous opportunities for us to deliver services that we were unable to provide either because the old premises simply were not suitable or the church members were far too busy raising funds merely to cover the immense overheads of the two old buildings.''

She said: "The new building will be warm, inviting and economical to run so the church members will now be able to concentrate on delivering services without the constant worry of the expense of running two buildings.''

Martin Bettington, chairman of Biffaward, said: "Biffaward is pleased to be able to contribute to the project which will provide the village with modern and safe community facilities."