A PARISH council has agreed to accept a £42,000 grant to improve its sports field.

Heighington Parish Council voted to accept the money, and the conditions which come with it, at a majority of six to one, with one abstention.

The total cost of work to improve the field is £80,000 - and the grant from the Football Foundation will go towards the cost of a car park, fencing and drainage.

The bid for the money has been controversial, with some villagers worried that accepting the money would mean too many difficult conditions were imposed on the land.

The work on the field is tied in with work to improve the road between the field and the primary school.

Darlington Borough Council has carried out improvement works and the school is building an entrance way - so parents can park on the new car park in the sports field and stop blocking up the village roads and parking danger-ously.

Northumbrian Water is installing a new sewer under the field.

The work starts today, with the main improvements starting on January 30 and a completion date of March 24 planned. Work on the car park should start in March.

Councillors will put work on the grassy pitches out to tender - and report back to the next meeting of the parish council, in February.