A PARK will regain its key community role today when it re-opens its gates after a £1.8m facelift.

First opened in 1929 as a Miners Welfare Ground, Horden Welfare Park had fallen into disrepair over the years.

But in February last year, a comprehensive restoration project was launched which has helped restore the former pit village's park to its former glory.

The park will be opened by Horden parish clerk Samantha Shippen, in recognition of her work in co-ordinating the scheme and bringing together the large funding package needed to carry out the extensive works.

The scheme has included the restoration of the original bandstand, a new dwarf boundary wall with ornate steel fencing, two new play areas and ornate wrought iron gates.

It has also seen the replacement of footpaths, the commission of a bespoke flower sculpture as well as major landscaping works throughout and the conversion of a derelict building into a community caf.

More than 15,000 new shrubs have been planted, in a project to completely transforming the once-outdated recreation ground.

Seventy five per cent of the £1.8m bill for the work has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with other cash provided by the European Regional Development Fund, SureStart Easington Colliery and Horden, the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, County Durham Environmental Trust and the North-East Mineworkers Trust Fund. The remaining cash came from Horden Parish Council.

The scheme was designed by Durham-based Cassella Stanger, with senior landscape architect Jenny Gilmour responsible for the detailed design and implementation of the work.

The lot of replacing the thousands of shrubs in the park fell to Horden Parish Council's own groundstaff.

Attending the opening to-day will be all those who have contributed towards transforming the park into what is believed will be the new heart of the community.

To mark the re-opening, the parish council has organised a gala teddy bears' picnic in the grounds on Sunday, beginning at 2pm, and councillors hope the village will turn out in force.