A CAMPAIGN group set up to redevelop a community centre in Teesdale has made an important step towards its fundraising target.

The Witham Hall redevelopment fund committee has been given a cheque for £2,500 from the GlaxoSmithKline care committee, which will help to make improvements to the 19th Century community centre, in Barnard Castle.

The committee is now only £4,000 short of its £18,000 second-stage target, which will pay for architects and designers to finalise an in-depth analysis of what work needs to be done to the hall and how it may look after the work.

Architects from Cassidy and Ashton were appointed last year to provide initial plans of what work was needed. A feasibility study was also carried out by Create.

An estimated target of £5m could be needed to carry out all the improvements and extension work that the committee is planning, but once the initial target of £18,000 is raised the group will luck to apply for grants from national bodies.

The extension would provide a separate theatre to be used by local performance groups and work would also be carried out to create better access for disabled visitors.

Improvements need to be carried out on the roof of the building. Elizabeth Conran, of the Witham Hall Redevelopment fund committee, said: "Previous donations to the redevelopment fund have been used to attract larger grants from other organisations, to progress phase two of the redevelopment plans. When the detailed plans are ready, applications will be made for the costs of construction, later this year. Community support, like the gift from the GlaxoSmithKline Care Committee, has been of vital importance so far, and the Witham is very grateful to everyone who has helped."

To make a donation contact the Witham Hall, on (01833) 631107.