an environmental scheme on a stream in Newton Aycliffe has been approved.

Great Aycliffe Town Council is hoping to turn Woodham Burn, which runs through the centre of the town, into a haven for wildlife.

The river is already important for wild flowers, kingfishers and water voles, but the natural channel habitat has been altered to their detriment over a number of years.

The channel is now extremely fast flowing, especially in times of heavy rain, and the council wants to recreate natural features to help the wildlife flourish.

Plans include a reed bed, stone weir and riffles, wild flower glades, footpaths, dipping platforms, channel widening and aquatic planting, as well as clearance of undergrowth and weeds.

It is hoped that the burn will eventually gain status as a Local Nature Reserve.

The work would take place along the stretch of the burn running between Woodham Comprehensive and Woodham Burn Junior schools.

Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee met to discuss the plans, which members welcomed.

After representations by English Nature, a condition has been imposed that a vole survey is carried out and methods put in place to protect them during the work.

Now the council will continue trying to raise the estimated £100,000 needed for the work.