THANKS to the tireless efforts of the local community, a resource centre will be opened in Norton next week.

The Albany Community Resource Centre, serving the area from Norton Road to the A19, will be opened by the Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Terry Bean, on Wednesday.

The centre is the result of four years' effort by members of the community, ward councillors and officers from Stockton Borough Council, who wanted to develop somewhere in the area where residents could go for social activities and events.

Bob Walls, chairman of the Albany Residents' Association, said: "The local residents, more than a third of whom are over 50, had no-where to go for social activities or evenings, so we started to try to apply for funding."

The council, Single Regeneration Budget, Stockton Residents' and Community Groups' Association, the National Lottery, Cleveland Community Foundation and the Ropner Trust all stepped in to help, and a small, disused shop has now been converted into a centre, which can be used for recreational or educational purposes.

The centre stages social evenings on Wednesday and Friday nights, and residents can drop in during the day, between 9am and noon and 1.30pm and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat.

To find out more about the centre call (01642) 803320.