PARISH councillors are hoping to give a park a majestic makeover to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

The plan, to completely refurbish the Memorial Park, in Victoria Road, Eaglescliffe, will cost £22,500.

Egglescliffe Parish Council has pledged £2,500 towards the cost and is asking local businesses to provide the other £20,000 needed to rejuvenate the park, which is in a proposed conservation area.

Parish council chairman Linda Vernon said: "It hasn't been done up for a long while, and we just thought it would be a nice idea to refurbish it this year to coincide with the jubilee. The aim is to reflect the heritage of the area.

"We'd like to put flower beds in and just generally paint the railings and smart-en the whole area up with trees and rose bushes."

Councillors hope that the idea will be as successful as its refurbishment of Egglescliffe War Memorial in 1998.

"We have done it before so we are hoping to do it again," said Councillor Vernon. "This scheme will provide an enduring memorial for the people of Egglescliffe and Preston parishes."

A copy of the plan for the park will be on show at the annual parish meeting on Thursday, April 25, at 7pm, in Egglescliffe Community Centre, Durham Lane. Anyone interesting in sponsoring the project can contact the council clerk on (01642) 785951.