A YOUTH cafe and drop-in centre look likely to open in Teesdale after receiving a £60,000 grant.

The YMCA Barnard Castle District was awarded the grant from the Northern Rock Foundation.

In March, redevelopment work is expected to start on the centre, in Galgate, Barnard Castle.

The work is expected to take 18 to 20 weeks to complete.

When finished, the centre will boast an Internet cafe, music systems, televisions and video games, with rooms for meetings and project work.

This is the latest in several grants and puts the centre well on its way to its £150,000 target.

A grant of £25,000 was received from the Garfield Weston Foundation, £7,500 from the YMCA Movement Trust Fund and £1,000 from the Teesdale Task Force.

Project manager Tracy Blandford said: "This is great news, we are so close to the building work starting.

"We are just waiting for confirmation of one more source of funding, which will be the icing on the cake for the project."

Young people have been involved in the design of the new centre, and one of them said: "It is great to hear about the money.

"A youth cafe has been talked about for so long and I thought I may never see it.

"I now know that there will be a drop-in cafe for young people in Barnard Castle and I am very excited. I can't wait to use it."

The YMCA will be appointing youth workers for the project and anyone interested can contact Ms Blandford on 07888 832458.