REFURBISHMENTS to turn around a decaying community centre are due to be completed.

The 12-year project to renovate Dalton Community Centre was worked on by volunteers who transformed the dilapidated building into a thriving hub for the town.

Now the final touches of the £750,000 project will be carried out after Dalton Community Association received a grant from Electricity North West.

The community group has been handed a £6,000, which it will use to buy a new smart LED lighting system.

Since volunteers set about transforming the centre in 2008, the centre has been completely redeveloped for a range of community uses.

Barry Doughty, chairman of Dalton Community Association, said: “This is the final phase of a project that has taken 12 years to complete.

"It was a real challenge, but we’ve learnt a lot along the way.

“The building is a former army drill hall, which was cold and draughty, and today it is used by 50 different groups every year, with up to 5,000 people coming through the doors every month.

“The energy efficient changes we’ve made throughout the development have made a real difference, so this gives us the opportunity to spread the word about how people can save energy in their own homes too.”

The centre is now the home of Dalton's library, police office and a host of groups.

Volunteers now plan to create a series of short films about the transformation of the centre, which will include tips on how people can lessen their own carbon footprint, and will be shared online and shown at its regular film club.

Dalton Community Association trustees were honoured with the Queen's Award for voluntary service in 2018.

Helen Seagrave, community energy manager at ENW, said: “The story of how the people of Dalton have come together to transform their community centre is an inspiration, so we are really pleased to have been able to play a small part in the project."

A recently released book, From Dill Hall to Centre for All, charts the centre's history.