A MULTI-MILLION pound eco-project is set to transform a County Durham dale after planners gave it their unanimous seal of approval today.

Eastgate Renewable Energy Village, in Weardale, could create 350 jobs and turn the area into a tourism hotspot to rival the Lake District.

Councillors sitting on Durham County Council's development control committee gave the plans by Weardale Task Force the green light this afternoon at a meeting at Crook. The project, dubbed "Eco-Disney", will feature all five forms of land-based renewable energy available in the UK - wind, solar, biomass, hydro and geothermal.

A hotel and spa, 65 homes, and workshops are proposed along with outdoor sporting facilities. Representatives from the Task Force and objectors from the area spoke at the meeting.

Read the full story in The Northern Echo tomorrow.