A RUN-DOWN neighbourhood could gain its first doctors' surgery, as part of a £50m regeneration scheme.

A youth and community centre at Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough, which is to be demolished as part of the £50m redevelopment of the neighbourhood, is to be replaced with a £3.5m health and community centre.

As part of the package, the centre could include a two-doctor GP practice and nursing and treatment facilities, sport facilities, such as an all-weather pitch, a community hall and community access to information and computer technology.

Residents are invited to a consultation at Whinney Banks tomorrow, to meet representatives from West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust (WMNT), supervising the revamp, officers from Middlesbrough Council, Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust and the architects involved in the design of the proposed new facility.

Jan Sinclair, director of the neighbourhood trust, said: "This is a major event for WMNT, as the proposed new centre has the potential to be of huge benefit to the local community.

"We believe it is very important to listen to the views of local residents and we want as many people as possible from Newport, West Lane and Whinney Banks to come to the consultation day and speak to us about this exciting facility."

Residents can drop in at the event at St Martin's Church Hall, in Kirby Avenue, anytime between 1pm and 7pm tomorrow.

For more details, residents can call WMNT's housing programme team on (01642) 819388.