COMMUNITY spirit is growing in neighbouring villages where people are working together to improve the area they live in.

Growing Forward Together brings together residents, children and businesses in Trimdon Station and Deaf Hill to improve their environment.

The group, which has been developing for 18 months, includes residents, Durham County Councillors, members of Trimdon Foundry Parish Council, pupils from Deaf Hill Primary School, Trimdon Station Residents Association, Trimdon Station Community Centre, East Durham Rural Corridor AAP, housing providers and businesses.

Volunteers have ran litter picks, which were supported by youngsters from Deaf Hill Primary School and Trimdon Station Community Centre Youth Club, and children planted thousands of spring flowering bulbs opposite St Aidan’s Terrace.

Daffodil pots have been supplied to residents of Tobin Street bungalows, seating has been replaced and new planters installed along Wingate and Thornley Road and the group teamed up with Trimdon Foundry Parish Council to improve the Heritage Trail and the T-junction at the Foundry Fish Shop.

Trimdon Station Residents Association Fun Club Fun is enhancing the wildflower area at Laburnum Crescent.

The group hopes to improve all three entrances to the villages and create new floral displays to support Trimdon Foundry in Bloom.

Durham County Councillor for Trimdon and Thornley Lucy Hovvels, cabinet member for adult and health services, provided funding for the scheme.

She said: “It’s great to see so many people taking an interest and pride in their local community.”

She encouraged people to attend the next Growing Forward Together meeting on Friday, September 16, 12.30pm at Trimdon Station Residents Association, May Crescent.

“Extra volunteers with skills in painting, weeding, planting, litter picking and who love living in Trimdon Station and Deaf Hill will also be warmly greeted,” she added.

Cllr Brian Stephens, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, added: “The scheme is a brilliant example of how partners who know, work and live in the area can come together and make improvements.”