PEOPLE who fought for seven years to build a community centre are launching pre-school and after-school clubs.

The Jubilee Fields Community Centre, in Shildon, has been open for just over a year and it has far exceeded the expectations of the volunteers who work there.

The £700,000 facility has fast become the heart of the Jubilee Estate, with a host of clubs and activities being set up for residents.

Elizabeth Carr, treasurer of the Jubilee Fields Residents' Association, said the centre was looking to set up pre-school and after-school clubs to meet the demand from parents on the estate.

She said: "We are looking for them to start on September 30. Because the Thickley Ward is classed as a deprived area we will qualify for funding from the Sure Start scheme and we will look at that in January. It is a pilot scheme and the management committee has decided we can run it ourselves."

The association has already appointed a person qualified to work with children to lead the two clubs.

The pre-school club is aimed at three to five-year-olds and will run from 1pm to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

The after-school club will cost £2.50 per child and is aimed at seven to 11-year-olds. It runs from 3.30pm to 5.30pm five days a week.

Youngsters will be collected from school and walked to the centre, where they will receive light refreshments and take part in activities.

Mrs Carr said: "We feel that there is a need for this in the area and we will eventually be looking at using the community bus to collect from all the schools.

"We are delighted with the way the centre is going. We have really excelled ourselves and proved that there definitely was a need for a facility like this.''

For more information about the clubs contact the centre on (01388) 775425.