HOT water from deep underground could transform the fortunes of a forgotten corner of the North Pennines.

Drilling at Eastgate, in Weardale, has revealed “hot rocks” containing water that could be used to create a spa on a disused cement works site.

The spa would be centred around an eco-village containing tourist attractions, homes and businesses.

Geothermal energy is one of five forms of landbased renewable energy being considered for the village, which already has outline planning permission.

Scientists were on site at Eastgate, near Stanhope, yesterday to confirm test results at 40C, which is warm enough to heat the spa and other buildings with plenty to spare.

Professor Paul Younger, hydrologist and environmental engineer, said: “It is a big day. It confirms that we have enough hot water to heat the spa, which will be the first time this has happened in the UK since the Romans tapped the hot springs at Bath.

“Using a twin borehole system – the first of its kind to be used in the UK – has overcome problems that hindered earlier attempts to tap the benefits of the deep-seated hot water. This means we are able to maintain the natural water pressures in the rocks and allow pumping to continue for many decades to come.

“By recycling the hot water through what is essentially a huge central dealing system deep underground, we can produce an almost carbonneutral source of energy.

“There is every reason to suppose that if we drill even deeper here in future we will find water at boiling point, which is hot enough to generate electricity.”

Professor David Manning, also of Newcastle University, said the Eastgate borehole was a geothermal prototype that could be used at other hotspots across the UK.

He said: “Some rocks are far better at producing heat than others – especially granite of the kind we have drilled into at Eastgate.

“This makes it one of the country’s hotspots – where water starts warming up quite close to the surface.”

The next move at Eastgate will be up to the politicians, who are due to be considering the future of the development during the coming months.

Durham County Council described the Newcastle University findings as of real interest.

But Lloyd McInally, Lafarge Cement UK’s rating and regeneration manager, said: “It is a completely different economic climate than the one we faced when we started at Eastgate, especially for the public sector.

“We have to be optimistic.

There are people who are desperate to get started.”