A VILLAGE community centre is celebrating another landmark three years after opening a £580,000 youth club.

Pelton Community Centre, near Chester-le-Street, will tomorrow (Saturday May 26) officially open its new gym and community cafe.

Two years ago the centre built a £580,000 extension that created its Room 14 centre for local youngsters, which has just added two new all-female rooms.

The £27,000 gym was created through Durham County Council’s Wellness on Wheels programme, which takes a mobile gym to outlying area.

The gym has been funded with £15,000 from local Labour councillor Jim Cordon’s neighbourhood budget and money from Pelton Community Association and Durham County Council.

Its equipment includes two treadmills, two cross trainers two exercise bike, weights and multi-gym equipment.

The volunteer-run facility, which can accommodate 13 people, will be open between 9am and 9pm on weekdays and between 9am and 1pm on Saturdays.

It will cost £3 per session or £100 for a year’s membership - with a £20 discount for those who sign up on Saturday, Centre manager Clare Foreman said: "I think it is going to work quite well, and we have had lots of interest so far.

"When we have done consultations we have found a need for it.

"The nearest gym it is in Chester-le-Street. You have to get a bus and it is quite a bit of a walk from Front Street to the gym.

"Also you have to get into a big contract with them and pay a lot more. It makes sense to have something closer.

"We are hoping it will bring more people in and make them more aware of what we are doing at the centre The community cafe will be open on Wednesdays between 10am and 2pm and from 11.30am to 2pm on Thursdays, selling healthy snacks, a main meal and pudding.

"We were always planning to have a cafe, it was just a question of when we found the volunteers to run it,’’ said Miss Foreman.

Councillor Cordon said: "We want young mothers to come in get nice healthy snacks for them and their children.

"We want a community cafe drop-in where young mums can have a cup of tea and meet each other, chill out and have a chat."

The open day is between 9am and noon with the official opening by Coun Cordon at 11am.

For further details about the centre and its activities call 0191-370 0726.