A COMMUNITY centre which was left struggling after a funding crisis less than a decade ago has turned its fortunes around to become a thriving hub of the village.

Hurworth Grange Community Centre, which was left striving to balance the books when grants it depended on were cut five years ago, now has dozens of activities and a vibrant social club.

The village boasts a pottery, recording studio, nursery and a chiropodist, all based at The Grange, and residents have classes ranging from pilates to embroidery to dance and drama on their doorstep every night of the week.

So how has the centre managed to pull off this extraordinary feat?

Stan Holme, of Hurworth Community Association, which owns The Grange, said it had been necessary to change the way the centre operated to ensure its survival.

"I think we have come from a point where we were struggling, to a point now where we are starting the year with the books in the black. We are breaking even," he said.

"We have changed the way we look at things. Before, we were trying to do things for the community.

Now, we try to look at ourselves as facilitators. If someone wants to do something, we provide the rooms at a reasonable cost."

This approach has clearly proved successful as the centre is now busy and well-used, but also self-sufficient, employing two full-time and two part-time members of staff.

The centre, which is booked every Saturday this year save four, is already hosting wedding receptions and is looking to hold more business conferences and other day-time activities.

Mr Holme said he thought they had achieved the right balance.

"You have got to give the community a resource, that is number one, but we have got to balance the books. If we don't balance the books, it doesn't matter how much we love it, it won't survive."

The centre has been renovated over the past few years, with some of the work done by businesses in exchange for reduced rent.

The rest has fallen to unpaid volunteers, including the resident painter and decorator, Ken Peacock, who despite being in his 70s, has transformed many of the rooms - no mean feat on building which is more than 130 years old.

Built in 1875 and set in 14 acres of grounds, The Grange was built by the Backhouse family, before being bought by the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, which sold it to the parish council in 1968 and opened it as a community centre a year later.

Keith Sandick, centre manager, said: "It is starting to go forward.

We have money in the bank and the building is in a good state of repair."

And the businesses which operate from The Grange agree.

Denise Wilson, deputy manager of Little Acorns nursery, said: "It is a lovely place to work. Being in The Grange is fantastic as we have got the outside area which we can use as an outside classroom or for play."

Joanne Scott, who owns Buttercups Pottery, said: "We looked at being in the town centre, but we chose here instead, as it was somewhere people could get away from it all. We love it."