A chess club in Darlington gets started in a few weeks opening up the game to people of all ages and abilities.

Plans for the club have been met with a positive response from local players keen to better their chess skills.

David Bracken, of Lingfield, Darlington, is the mastermind behind the initiative and will run two-hour sessions at St Herbert's Church Hall every fortnight.

"There is nothing like this for people to do on the east side of Darlington so I'm hoping it will become a focal point for local residents," he said.

The Darlington Chess and Board Games Club, which Mr Bracken hopes will open in late January or early February, will also allow members to play other games, including Monopoly and Risk.

Mr Bracken, 53, has been playing chess since he was a child and became quite competitive while playing for the Harrogate Chess Club, in North Yorkshire. He is offers individual chess tuition for beginners at a cost of £5 per hour.

For details, call Mr Bracken on (01325) 243545.