A BANK'S employees took time out from behind their desks to help decorate a village resource centre.

Workers from the Barclays Employee Volunteering Programme helped members of the Sedgefield Development Partnership paint their new premises with the help of a £500 grant -with the bank already having donated £25,000 towards the centre.

The resource centre acts as a facility and information point for other local providers and groups to deliver and promote their programmes.

Roger Clubley, partnership chairman, said: "Barclays provided financial support with a donation of £25,000 to help equip the new premises.

"To have the practical hands-on help of bank's employees is a very welcome and added bonus."