A fantastic fund-raising drive has led to a new £60,000 hub for villagers.
Residents in Stannington have spent the last year working on a project to create a new community room.
A committee was set up in early 2014 to look at the financial and logistical challenges.
And after a village-wide campaign to raise funds, coupled with a £10,000 donation from The Banks Group and £5,000 from Lord Ridley, the facility has been built at Stannington First School.
It will be available to pupils, but will also provide extra capacity from the well-used Village Hall.
Already it is being used by scout and cub groups, and there are plans for it to host a variety of community functions, school events and lessons.
Project committee member Dave Hepton said: “We’re lucky to have a fantastic Village Hall in Stannington, but we felt that with it being so busy we needed some extra capacity for community events and organisations.
“The whole village backed the fund-raising drive from the off with great enthusiasm and dedication, and to see the community room in place is a fantastic reward for everyone’s hard work.”
Banks’ support came from the company’s Brenkley Lane Surface Mine Community Fund.
Environment and Community Director Mark Dowdall said: “This is a fantastic community project.”
