A CHURCH is more welcoming than ever to its community after thousands of pounds of improvements were made to the building.

More than £13,000 has been spent upgrading the Grade II listed Tudhoe Methodist Church, on Front Street, Tudhoe.

A gravelled front garden has been replaced with stone paving and a ramp installed to improve access, particularly for disabled visitors.

The project has also included repairs and railings fitted to the existing stone wall and a new gate.

Durham County Councillors Neil Foster and Barbara Graham put £5,000 from each of their neighbourhood budgets towards the work.

Coun Graham said: “The church was built in the late 1800s and now we’re helping to bring it up to date and enabling all members of the community to access it.”