THE history of a thriving village hall is to be charted in a book produced with money from the National Lottery Awards For All programme.

Delves Lane Community Association, near Consett, has secured a £4,150 grant and chairman Tony Westgarth aims to tell the story of the hall's development, from its beginnings as a miners' welfare hall in 1925 to the present day.

Copies of the book, which should be ready in November, will be given away free to the 2,500 homes in the village.

The hall was built by Consett Iron Company for the miners who sunk the Victoria pit and was handed over to the community following the colliery's closure in 1964.

Mr Westgarth said it was probably one of the busiest and best-used centres in the county. "We do quite a lot, now, and it is probably as busy now as it has been in its history.

"We have things like computer courses, a men's forum, craft classes, a lunch club and a parent and toddler group. We are talking about thousands of people using it throughout the year.''

Mr Westgarth is hoping villagers and people who used to live in the village will be able to provide their recollections of using the hall for the book.

Anyone with photographs or memories to share can call at the village hall, or telephone Mr Westgarth on (01207) 583174.