A COMMUNITY centre has completed a £56,000 refurbishment in time for a show.

Chester-le-Street Community Centre was awarded a grant by the National Lottery fund to install a lift that will allow disabled people to gain access to the centre and for general refurbishment.

Work began in October and has been completed in time for Chester-le-Street Theatre Group's next play, One Too Many, which begins on Tuesday, February 10.

It will be the first performance of a script written by new playwright David Welsh, from Cumbria, who will travel to see the show.

The amateur dramatics group got hold of his work through an agency, New Theatre Publications.

Chairman of the community centre and theatre group, Bill Stephenson, said: "It's going to be a world premier. It's something brand new and something different."

Mr Stephenson said it was an added bonus disabled access had been installed in time for the show.

He said: "We've removed one of the staircases and put in a lift that will hold eight people and a wheelchair. It's great for the theatre. It means the theatre is now fully accessible to everyone."

Tickets for the play, costing £4 and £3, can be booked on 0191-385 7500 or 0191-388 4752, or from the community centre, on Newcastle Bank, between 9.30am and 9.30pm.