THE future of a centre for adults with learning difficulties in Newton Aycliffe has been resolved.

The Acorn Centre, on Aycliffe Industrial Estate, is housed in a former factory and has long been recognised as unsuitable.

When the lease was coming to an end this year, proposals for alternative accommodation were discussed.

One of the suggestions was to move to the Jubilee Centre, in Spennymoor, but that proved unpopular and a petition against the plan was drawn up.

The lease on the Acorn Centre was extended while other options were considered and suitable premises have now been found in the town.

The service will be moving into rooms in St Clare's Church, near the town centre, on January 1, which has better facilities than the present unit.

Clients will also be able to use a shop in the nearby Thames Centre for selling items made in workshops.

An allotment has been made available at Clarence Chare for members interested in gardening.

The solution has met with an enthusiastic response. A spokeswoman for Durham County Council said: "The people who were using the Acorn Centre are actually very happy with these new arrangements.

"Nothing really changes except the location, but with better toilets, better heating and more comfortable surroundings.

"They will have the same range of activities and the same transport arrangements, but closer to the town centre, which means they are going to have access to a range of other facilities."

Councillor Bill Blenkinsopp, who has campaigned with his colleague Terry Hogan for the service to remain in Newton Aycliffe, said he was pleased.

He said: "We are over the moon. What they wanted to do, was ship these people to Spennymoor and the majority of them come from Newton Aycliffe.

"They wanted to be somewhere near the town, and the shop they have got where they can sell some of their goods gives them a sense of belonging.

"To be honest, it took a lot of persuasion to get it sorted out, but now that it is, everybody is delighted.