A community charity has been awarded a £15,000 grant to employ a part-time manager to build on its success.

The money will help Middleton Plus, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, recruit someone to fill the two-year post, which has been advertised.

It is another step forward for the organisation, which began as an informal group of residents almost a decade ago with the aim of boosting the upper dale.

Middleton Plus was formed in 1993, it gained charity status in 1998 and is now an integral part of the community, encouraging social, economic and environmental regeneration.

Now, the charity is looking to appoint a development trust manager, whose role will include looking after the concerns of the trust, working with the management committee and group members and implementing its action plan.

While a grant has been made towards the post, securing the cash to fund one of its main projects still hangs in the balance.

The Meet the Middletons centre, an interactive visitor attraction due to open above the Co-op supermarket last Easter, has been delayed because of a shortfall of about £30,000.

The centre will take the village's social history as its theme, aiming to entertain and educate children and help adults who want in-depth information.

But the chairman of Middleton Plus, Alison Race, is confident that applications for a series of grants will help find the money needed.

Teesdale District councillor Ian Galletley, who represents the village, said: "I used to be involved in the group so I know how much good work it does for the area.

"I'm thrilled it is being supported with this grant and only hope the living museum is as lucky with funding and opens soon."

John Naylor, chief executive of the Carnegie UK Trust, which awarded the grant, said: "Our programme is intended to support imaginative schemes to energise hard-pressed rural areas, particularly in the wake of foot-and- mouth.

"We hope this will make a difference."