TWO village play areas are to be overhauled thanks to almost £160,000 in funding from housing developers.

West Auckland's recreation ground will be moved from its flood-prone site in New Street to a safer area nearby, with new equipment planned.

The Middlewood Green play area, in St Helen Auckland, will also be upgraded, thanks to funding from companies that have built homes in the area recently.

The money was given to Wear Valley District Council for community use, and local councillors Margaret Douthwaite, Colin Mairs and John Ferguson have secured it for the play areas.

West Auckland Parish Council had applied for funding for the recreation ground, where most of the equipment is out-of-date.

Using £100,000 of funding, the parish council and Groundwork West Durham and Darlington will create new facilities.

Parish council chairwoman Hazel Charlton said: "Groundwork has spoken to the two primary schools, youth groups, the youth club and the Village Centre, and asked what they would like to have included. We want to make sure that the people who use it get what they want. If we want people to use things, it has to be worth using."

Although plans have yet to be finalised and consultation still needs to be carried out, it is hoped the facilities will feature basketball hoops, goalposts, a youth shelter, slides, swings and climbing frames.

A beck runs alongside the current recreation ground, meaning it can be affected by high waters, but although it is nearby, the new site is less susceptible.

At St Helen Auckland, the Middlewood Green play area has already been improved in recent years, but £60,000 will be spent on updating and adding to the equipment. Coun Douthwaite said: "The money is for development in the whole of the ward.

Children use both play areas, so we agree the money can be used so that everybody in the ward can benefit."

Coun Mairs said: "It is great that this money has been secured.

It will be beneficial for the whole ward."