RESIDENTS of an east Durham town have been urged to throw their weight behind a lottery bid to refurbish a community hall.

St Mary's Church, Accent Housing and Horden Colliery Residents Association are working together on an application to the Big Lottery Fund. If successful it could see the complete refurbishment of St Mary's Community Hall.

Michael Fishwick, communities and neighbourhoods organiser with Accent, said: "Our vision is to turn the building into a Horden Centre for Regeneration.

"It will be a venue which would host all of the existing activities going on there.

"But it would have additional rooms and new facilities able to house groups and service providers, aimed at tackling the causes of family and neighbourhood breakdown in and around Horden for the benefit of all residents."

Mr Fishwick said the project was an opportunity to secure £500,000 of investment in the community, but to be successful organisers needed local support and the views of as many residents and community representatives as possible.

Informal consultation sessions will be held at St Mary’s Community Hall, behind St Mary’s Church, in Blackhills Road, Horden from 1pm to 3pm and from 3.30pm to 5.30pm tomorrow (Friday September 15). For further information contact Mr Fishwick on 0191-569 1509.

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