A HUGE land reclamation programme looks likely to start in north Durham following a lengthy delay.

Industrial wasteland at Hetton-le-Hole will be transformed into a community park if work starts on landscaping at Eppleton Quarry and nearby pit heaps.

Plans for the work were approved last year, but long-running negotiations between interested parties has held the project up.

Sunderland City Council environment director Wil-liam Ault was optimistic that the disputes had finally been sorted out and expected work to begin in the late spring. He said the land recovery programme would last four years.

Another scheme to improve land between the main quarry site and housing would run at the same time as the main work.

Residents will be consulted at a later date about what they wish to see in the country park