UP TO £150,000 is on offer to help revitalise the economy of rural County Durham by reusing emp-ty buildings.

The Redundant Building Grant scheme was set up to convert disused buildings for business purposes.

The money comes from regional development agency One-NorthEast and the County Dur-ham Economic Partnership.

One success story is The Store, in Dipton, near Stanley, where the former Co-operative building is being transformed into a healthy living centre and theatre.

But officials from Durham County Council, which manages the scheme, are concerned they will have to return the remaining money if there are no more applications by the end of the financial year.

The money is also available to farmers, either to improve the sustainability of their farms or to provide commercial facilities and employment.

One firm to benefit is The Smithy, on the Mortham Estate, near Barnard Castle, where a redundant blacksmith's premises was converted into an iron and steel fabrication business called Rokeby Forge.

It was set up by Rob Walton and Jonathan Robson, whose parents are tenant farmers on the estate.

"Almost any building can be eligible as long as the building will be used for business purposes on completion of the works," said project officer Kirstie Dennis.

The scheme runs until the end of March. Grants are available from £2,500 to £62,500, up to a quarter of the overall cost of the project.

Applications must be made before any work starts.

For details, or an application form, contact Kirstie Dennis or Anne Magee on 0191-383 4349.