FOOTBALLER Colin Cooper joined community leaders in his home village to urge more residents to join a group that will shape the area's future.

The Middlesbrough star joined Sedgefield Borough Councillor Lucy Hovvells to open a community celebration event at Trimdon Grange Community Centre on Friday.

The event, organised by Trimdon Regeneration Partnership and Trimdon 2000, included an exhibition of local history and information on groups and activities.

It also gave people a chance to share their views on the area's priorities and aimed to encourage residents from Trimdon Village, Colliery, Grange and Station to work together.

Coun Hovvells, who is on the partnership steering group, said: "It was about bringing all the local organisations together so we work together across all of the Trimdons, to celebrate what has been done so far and strengthen future efforts.

"The partnership needs more people from Trimdon Grange and Colliery to get involved before it can adopt a constitution.

"We've already got environmental improvements and public art projects on the go, but need everyone to get involved."

The next meeting of Trimdon Regeneration Partnership will be in Trimdon Colliery Community Centre on Thursday, April 27, at 6pm.