A VOLUNTEER conservation group has benefited from a grant which will allow it to keep running for three more years.

The grant has also allowed Teesdale Conservation Volunteers (TCV), in Startforth, near Barnard Castle, to buy some heavy-duty equipment for its community composting scheme.

The grant was awarded to TCV by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation's Community Recycling and Economic Development (CRED) programme with money from the Big Lottery Fund.

TCV has used it to buy machinery for its Rotters Community Composting scheme, including a large shredder, a trommel (a giant sieve), a tractor and trailer and a green waste pick-up vehicle.

TCV, which is a not-for-profit organisation, will be holding an open day at its grounds in Deepdale Woods on October 2, from 9am to 5pm.

A demonstration of the new composting machinery will also take place at Eggleston Show on Saturday.