HOPES that a play area which mysteriously closed last year will reopen appear to have been dashed after an application to use the building as a storage area was approved.

Scallywagz soft play centre, in the All Saints Industrial Estate, in Shildon, reportedly shut down last February.

It is understood some families who had booked parties at the venue had been informed but others took to Facebook to say they had not.

It was the second time in less than three years that the venue appeared to have ran into difficulty.

Previously known as the Play Shack, it re-opened its doors in August 2015, a month after it closed unexpectedly.

New owners, Chris Moody and Alan Barker, took over the facility and revamped the site with slides and soft play facilities as well as offering a new menu and themed birthday parties.

The venue catered for children under 12.

The Northern Echo tried to make contact with the owners last year but no response was ever received.

And now Durham County Council has approved an application from Mr Moody to change the use of the building from a children's play centre to a storage and distribution centre.

Mr Moody submitted the application in December, saying he was now using the site as an industrial storage unit.

The application was approved earlier this month with two conditions. To view it visit publicaccess.durham.gov.uk and search for DM/18/03815/FPA