A COMMUNITY is to buy equipment for its meeting place thanks to a grant from the Gannett Foundation.

The Northern Echo's parent company has given £2,150 to the Jubilee Fields Centre, in Shildon, to replace sports and games equipment at the centre, which is well used.

The money will also help to establish and run junior coaching programmes.

Centre manager Ephraim Bunting said: "Funding is not available and without this grant we would have had to have put up the centre's membership fees and admission fees.

"This money means that local youngsters will benefit through being able to access better equipment and by being coached correctly they will be able to perform to a higher standard.''

Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, said: "It's a privilege for The Northern Echo to be involved in the grant-making process, which can make a real difference to people's lives in the region."