WORK is forging ahead on an £800,000 community centre to open up a range of opportunities to families on a Hartlepool estate.

The steel frame of the building, which is being put up on land between the back of Hindpool Close and the railway embankment at Central Estate, is now in place.

The Community Initiatives Centre is due to be completed in November, and is a flagship scheme of the North Hartlepool Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Partnership.

Funding for the project has come from regional development agency One Northeast's Single Regeneration Budget and Community Investment Fund (£406,000), the European Regional Development Fund (£253,400), the Northern Rock Foundation (£50,000), and other trusts (£50,000).

The centre is being developed by the Central Residents' Association and will house a range of facilities, including a reception and cafe area, main hall, fitness and training rooms, creche and IT training suite.

John Williams, deputy chairman of One Northeast, viewed the building work and toasted the long-term success of the project when he was welcomed to the site.

He said: "I am particularly pleased to see the new building taking shape. The Central Residents' Association is to be congratulated on this project. It has been made possible by their sheer hard work and determination and will open up many wonderful opportunities to the local community."

Ena Savage, chairwoman of the residents' association, said: "We are on the brink of achieving our long-held ambition of providing this facility to benefit local people. It will be a dream come true for me when it finally opens its doors later this year."