A RURAL heritage centre which had to close when it ran out of money has been given a boost in its campaign to open again - by a commercial film director.

George Lambelle was so impressed when he visited the project at Middleton-in-Teesdale, near Barnard Castle, that he returned several times to study its displays about life in days gone by.

He was dismayed when he heard it was to be closed, but now he has produced a short film at his own expense in the hope of getting the centre reopened soon.

His DVD about the Meet and Middletons centre is to be shown to potential fund-ing bodies in an effort to persuade them to start supporting it.

Ian Tallentire, chairman of the management committee of Middleton Plus, which runs the centre, said yesterday: "We are very grateful to Mr Lambelle for making this film, which is bound to impress people and may well win us some backing.

"We plan to meet a number of possible funders and will screen the DVD for them. If we get some new support we could open again in late summer this year."

Mr Lambelle, who lives in Bishop Middleham, said: "I was highly impressed when I first visited the centre, so I called back several times. It gives a superb portrayal of life in Teesdale in the past and deserves to flourish.

"As soon as I heard about its money troubles I decided to try to help.

"I have given the centre six copies of the DVD and will be delighted if they play a part in winning more funding."

Years ago, he produced a radio play, The Hollow Hills, about Richard Watson, the Teesdale poet, featuring a local drama group, the Mad Mads. It won joint second prize in a national radio competition.

He said he was pleased to see the heritage centre's section about Richard Watson and some of his lead mining friends who toiled hard underground for little reward in the 1800s.