NINE community centres have been upgraded to make them safer if a fire breaks out.

The improvements were made to the centres to ensure they meet the fire safety standard required for all non-domestic premises.

Durham City Homes, landlord of the centres, organised the work with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service to make sure they are up to scratch.

Among the new precautions were emergency lights, new locks and systems to provide warnings when heat, smoke or carbon monoxide are detected.

Geoff Herron, the landlord’s electrical officer, said: “Our main concern is always the people inside our buildings and not the buildings themselves.

“Upgrading our community centres means that anyone using them can feel safe in the knowledge that the buildings meet the correct standards for fire safety.

“We involved the local fire brigade to ensure that they were happy with the upgrades we carried out.

“Some of the changes were simple but very effective, such as putting in new locks that don’t require a key internally so that people can exit easily in an emergency.

“We also installed new high efficiency LED emergency lights and systems that provide audio-visual warnings when heat, smoke or carbon monoxide are detected.”

Improvements were made at Arden House in West Rainton, Attlee Square Community Hub in Sherburn Village, the Communal Hall is Esh Winning, Harry Carr House in Meadowfield, Silver Courts Communal Hall in Brandon, Southbrooke House Community Hub in Pittington, Woodbine Court in Pity Me, 16 Beaurepaire in Bearpark and 19/20 Sycamore Park in Brandon.