CHURCH leaders have welcomed the opening of a newly refurbished community centre after a lengthy fundraising campaign.

About £150,000 has been spent revamping the Willow Road centre, in Darlington, to provide an information technology suite and other improved community facilities. Two state-of-the-art halls are now available.

The project was launched by Darlington College of Technology and Darlington Partnership, together with St Matthew's and St Luke's Church.

The church's vicar, the Rev Brian Holmes, said the facilities had been long awaited.

"We had two church halls that were in a very run-down condition and had suffered from under-investment," he said.

"But we have now turned the ethos from church hall into community centre. We have lots of things going on already and plenty of organisations are hiring us."

Bookings for the centre can be made through Zita Allan on (01325) 251331