WORK will start today on a £3.9m scheme to restore Darlington's South Park.

The first phase of the work will see a £500,000 project get under way to renew the gateways and railings around the park.

The sections of railings and gates that can be restored will be taken away for renovation off-site.

Missing railings, or those in a poor state of repair, will be replaced with new ones manufactured to the original Victorian designs.

English Heritage has also planned a maintenance programme for the parks' 1,200 trees.

Dead or diseased trees are being removed from the park and a programme of replanting will ensure the site is eventually restored to its Victorian splendour.

A new park manager and park ranger will also start work later this month.

The £3.9m scheme includes restoration of the bandstand, terracotta fountain and lake.

A sensory garden will be created and educational facilities built, the cafe will be restored and an adventure playground and skateboard park will be installed.

Darlington Borough Council says the work will be completed by next summer. The park will remain open.

Councillor Eleanor Lister, the council's cabinet member for leisure, said: "The work on the railings marks the start of the restoration programme. In the coming months people visiting the park will begin to see a real difference."

Residents living near the park have welcomed the restoration work.

Martin Wilson, who lives in Victoria Embankment, said: "This is wonderful, it is about time it had some money spent on it. This is what people want to see."

Mr Wilson is among residents protesting against other plans to create sports pitches, a pavilion and 50-space car park at South Park.

He said the work starting today on railings was part of the original plans for the park restoration, which residents were consulted about and which they supported.

Residents have voiced fierce opposition against the other development proposals, involving Cleveland Bridge, which has agreed to create the sports facilities close to South Park's Bedford Street entrance in exchange for permission to build 95 houses on a former sports field in Geneva Lane.

Some residents have filed complaints with the Local Government Ombudsman about how the council consulted them about that part of the park's development.