RESIDENTS took party in a clean-up of a local beauty spot at the weekend.

Families joined the Gilesgate and Pelaw branch of the Labour Party to tackle the rubbish in the ravine spanned by the Silverlink Footbridge, in Gilesgate, on Saturday.

Local historian Michael Richardson, who lives in Gilesgate, said: "A glacial ravine on the south side of Gilesgate Green, behind St Giles Close, is a forgotten beauty spot full of wildlife which is crossed by the Silver Link Footbridge linking Gilesgate with Pelaw Wood.

"Over the years, this spot has been used as a dumping ground for shopping trolleys, stolen bikes, and other things.

"The bridge was opened on April 12, 1938, and was based on a larger bridge which spanned the Zambezi Falls. It was designed by the City of Durham surveyor and engineer, Mr Green, and constructed by the Cleveland Bridge Company, of Darlington." A model of it is on display at Durham Town Hall.