BIRTHDAY celebrations have been held to mark regeneration in the Dalton, Rawthorpe and Moldgreen area.

The Dram programme ends this month after working in the community since 1995.

And a special evening was held to mark the seventh year of activity in the community and the final stages of the scheme.

More than £4.7m of government Single Regeneration Budget cash has been pumped into the area.

Projects funded by the cash have included a music and performing arts studio, health clinics and creation of the Greenfields family centre.

Chris Peltier, Dram programme manager, said the programme had had an impact on many people's lives throughout the area.

"The money was spent on improving the Dram area, not just the visual appearance of the area, but on developing schemes to bring the community closer together, improve job and learning opportunities and in short, improve the quality of life."

The celebrations, at Moldgreen United Reformed Church, included live entertainment from musical groups Dangerous Volume and Practical Headz and dance group Suga Brown.

There was also a children's talent contest with demonstrations from Dalton Dynamos football club and boxing skills with Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club.

Visitors were given free hot food and another chance to see Dram Life, a short film depicting the achievements of the Dram programme during its seven years of existence.