A new community hall has officially opened in Castlewellan, County Down.

Annsborough Community Forum completed the £270,000 project to design and develop a community space to cater for the needs of the rural community.

Grant funding from DARD's Rural Development Programme (RDP) and Ulster Wildlife Trust's Landfill Communities Fund, alongside investment from the former Down District Council and Northern Ireland Housing Executive, made the project possible.

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Rural Development Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "I congratulate Annsborough Community Forum on completion of this very impressive project.

"The funding of £100,000 from my Department's Rural Development Programme, delivered through Down Rural Area Partnership Local Action Group and Joint Council Committee, has been an important resource in bringing this project to fruition.

"This project demonstrates what the RDP is all about, allowing local people in rural areas to make local decisions which will improve lifestyles and services for their local community, and I am delighted that you have been able to avail of this funding opportunity."

(CD/JP)