DANCERS have been given a stay of execution for their much-loved base while plans continue for a modern building.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council last night said it was committed to moving out of the Sixties-built James Finegan Hall, in Eston, because of rising repair bills.

News last year that the building was to go sparked anger among a host of community groups who use the hall for their activities.

Residents feared they would lose the Mighty Wurlitzer organ at the hall, as it is the only venue big enough to house the seventonne instrument, which has 600 pipes.

But the council said the £2.69m repair and refurbishment bill made it impossible to guarantee the building's future.

A £4m repair bill for Eston Town Hall has led the council to consider a new combined building, in which council business and activities can be provided for under one roof.

Hundreds of people last year signed a petition to save the hall, where dance classes have taken place every week for more than 40 years.

But realising the move would be inevitable, users then raised concerns they would be without a replacement facility while work started on a new building.

However, the council this week reaffirmed its plans to ensure a seamless transition from the old to the new, with a building target of land off Normanby Road, at nearby Gillbrook College.

Council leader Councillor George Dunning called a meeting of representatives from the user groups.

He said: "We have had an extremely useful meeting. It's still very early in the planning, but we want them to be involved in the design of the new conference building. We're looking at two years' time before we can safely say we can transfer over."

But the pledge that existing activities can continue, and that groups already using the hall can get priority in the new building, has been gratefully received by the user groups.

Jim Graham, speaking on behalf of the user group representatives, said: "We're over the moon. Before, we couldn't get any guarantees if and where it would continue. We were told the hall would close for 12 months for repairs without any contingency plans."

Now Coun Dunning, who is scheduling quarterly talks with the groups, wants a new year meeting to debate a £70,000 maintenance budget.

Mr Graham said: "Of course, we would have liked to have stayed, but time moves on and you can't spend vast sums of money on an old building.

"We're enjoying dancing - but we can't control the conditions, it's either too hot or too cold."