WORK has started to create a people-friendly town centre in the heart of a community once divided by a busy road.

The £900,000 improvement scheme for Chilton aims to transform the town following the opening of a £9.1m bypass last year.

Durham Road, which runs through Chilton, used to carry about 18,000 vehicles a day as the A167, but the new 2.3km stretch of single carriageway around the village has cut the volume of traffic.

The refurbishment, which includes the creation of a town focal point in front of the Chilton Town Council offices, is the result of almost two years of consultation with residents and business people.

Service Direct, the construction arm of Durham County Council, started work at both ends of the road this week and will move towards the centre in stages over the next 28 weeks.

Pavements will be widened, pedestrian guard rails removed, street furniture, cycle stands and bus shelters installed and trees will be planted along the street.

To further improve safety, the road is being curved, traffic calming measures introduced and car parking spaces are being created outside shops.

County councillor George Porter said he was delighted that after extensive consultation the scheme the community wanted was under way.

He said: "Now that the new bypass is completed and the number of vehicles passing through the town has been drastically reduced, the way is clear to get on with the improvements to Durham Road itself.

"They will make a wonderful improvement to the town."

Chilton Community Partnership, Durham Road Development Group and Chilton West Residents' Association all contributed ideas from the community about how they wanted Durham Road to look.

Durham County Council, working with Sedgefield borough and Chilton town councils, incorporated the ideas into the project, which is being funded by the Single Regeneration Budget, the county, borough and town councils and the county council's local transport plan.