PLANS have been shelved for a doctor's surgery at a new £1.3m community centre in Darlington.

But the centre, being built in Burnside Road and due to open in January, will still offer health services to residents.

Councillor Roderick Francis said: "Having a doctor's surgery was an aspiration that we had when we thought about setting up the centre.

"We have now discovered that it will not happen. I am disappointed, but we have got so much going for us at the moment anyway.

"There will be a nurse there and support for new mothers, as we have a lot of single mothers on the estate."

The building will include a healthy living centre, run by Darlington Primary Care Trust.

It will run courses on exercise, smoking cessation, breastfeeding and healthy eating.

The trust's health improvement facilitator, Jan Finn, said: "We will be looking at healthy lifestyle issues and improving health, not dealing with illnesses.

"It is very much based on the preventative, though there will be a child health clinic, giving advice, support and offering immunisation, which will be run by health visitors. We are really positive about the whole scheme and I believe it has massive potential to grow."

Public health director Dr Nonnie Crawford said: "It's about healthy living and health improvement rather than health care. We will be working with community groups to get people more active. "

The centre will also house a credit union, the Workers' Education Association, a neighbourhood nursery, a youth club, a community cafe and housing office.