A £100,000 urban green space project to improve facilities for local people and wildlife, has been unveiled on Teesside.

North Billingham Residents' Association has secured the money from the Impetus Environmental Trust to create nearly 2km of footpaths, provide amenities for people using the site and improve habitats for wildlife at Cowbridge Beck.

Residents, schools and businesses will be invited to get involved in the project, which will be carried out this summer.

Mayor of Stockton John Fletcher was given a tour of the site on Wednesday.

North Billingham Residents' Association now hopes more people will take pride in the area and use green space facilities on their doorstep, as well as safeguarding existing wildlife such as water voles, kingfishers and herons.

Stockton Borough Council and the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust will be co-ordinating the work, creating volunteering opportunities for any residents who wish to get involved in the practical elements.

The Environment Agency has provided a further £10,000 to support the project with particular focus along Cowbridge Beck which flows through the area.

Jonathan Pounder, of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, said: "This project is very much about the local community coming together and working together to achieve local benefits.

"The residents' group has worked tirelessly to develop its ideas and secure funding, and it is great that we are now at the stage where work can begin and local residents will be able to see work on the ground.

"And we do hope local residents, organisations, schools and businesses will be able to spare some time to get involved."

Katy Dickson, spokeswoman for the Environment Agency, said: "The agency is actively supporting improvement projects on the rivers and streams in the Tees Valley.

"Improvements that benefit both people and wildlife are particularly important to us, as they can encourage communities to take more interest in and responsibility for their local stream."

Maureen Bowler, a member of the North Billingham Residents' Association, said: "This project has been ongoing for about four years and it is good to see phase two of the Cowbridge Beck project come to fruition.

"This type of project demonstrates how residents' associations can make a difference in their local area.

"I would like to see more residents get involved."

For more information about the project, call Mr Pounder at the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, on 01287-636382.