A training cafe for adults with learning and physical disabilities is opening in a Bishop Auckland community centre.

The Time Out cafe is being set up in the Four Clocks Centre, Newgate Street, by Durham County Council and the building's owners, Bishop Auckland Community Partnership. It will be open weekdays, from 10am to 3pm

A group of 23 volunteers, who all have learning disabilities, will be the first trainees, working under the guidance of a manager employed by the partnership.

Future trainees could be people with physical disabilities, who are blind or deaf, or fighting substance abuse. Each intake of 15 will be supported by carers from the county's social care and health department.

The project has been helped by a £20,000 grant from the Baily Thomas Charitable Trust and £2,000 from Bishop Auckland councillor Ken Manton.

Partnership chairman the Reverend Keith Phipps said: "It is important for the success of the scheme that it has local as well as charitable support, and we are confident that we can raise the remaining money we need."

Project director Ray Sunman said the cafe could attract an European Development Fund grant and would run for at least three years.

He added: "The partnership is confident that in this timescale it will have established a flagship project that will attract support and funding to continue."