A SPECIAL nurse is about to start work on a Darlington housing estate thanks to a grant from the National Lottery.

The Firthmoor to Health project has been awarded more than £500,000 and will use the money to set up a one-stop health shop where the public can access a variety of services. A specialist nurse will work from the centre and will be able to prescribe medication and give health advice in an attempt to reduce pressure on doctors in the area.

Mark Fabb, chairman of the Firthmoor Community Partnership Board and project manager for Firthmoor To Health, said: "This is excellent news for the community and the whole town. Having a dedicated health professional working for us will make such a huge difference to the services available to us, as well as easing the pressure on GPs in the town."

The Firthmoor To Health project was set up to tackle health issues in Firthmoor over a five-year period. The aim of the project is to improve the health of residents by providing community- based services and activities to tackle the root causes of poor health.

Money will also be directed towards young people and health issues affecting them, including teenage pregnancy and drugs misuse. The one-stop health centre will be part of the Firthmoor Community Initiatives Centre, which is expected to be built over the coming 18 months, with the demolition of the existing community centre. Until it is built, a temporary building near the site of the new centre will house the project.