Darlington Council has secured a £265,000 lottery grant which will help transform North Lodge Park.

The unitary authority is in the first wave of councils to benefit from a fair share scheme operated by the National Opportunities Fund to improve local open spaces.

The Darlington project will include new play areas, improved security, teenage leisure facilities, cycle paths and the restoration of historic features.

Jill Thistlethwaite, economic regeneration officer said: "We are delighted that approval has been given to allow Darlington's Transforming Your Space allocation to be invested in North Lodge Park.

"This provides a valuable opportunity to work with the community and key partner agencies to improve and enhance a vital local amenity, developing it into an area that people can be proud of and enjoy."

A council spokesman added: "We have until August 31 to get to the second stage of the application. The time between now and then will be spent consulting with the community and other people involved to find out exactly how the money is going to be spent."

Those conclusions have to be submitted in August, two or three months before the final go-ahead.