PLANS for a North-East helicopter museum combined with a ground-breaking venture in the rehabilitation of disabled former armed forces personnel have taken a step forward.

An application has been submitted to Durham County Council seeking permission for the new facility at Shotton Airfield, next to the Peterlee Parachute Centre.

The development would comprise a helicopter museum, maintenance and training workshop, and learning resource centre.

Durham Helicopter Museum Ltd is a registered charity which plans to provide employment opportunities and back-to-work skills training for disabled ex-service men and women.

There will also be opportunities for learning for schools, young people and community groups in the field of aviation history, engineering and technology.

The facility is the brainchild of retired Army Air Corps engineer Duncan Moyse.

The maintenance workshop will be used to carry out servicing of helicopters in use and dismantling obsolete machines.

The work will be carried out by aviation engineering students under the supervision of qualified engineers.

It is anticipated that there will be two qualified instructors and 10 students using the workshop at any one time.

There will be no testing of aircraft engines on site.

Museum trustee Madeleine Ashdown said: “This is first and foremost a community-based project, and has been welcomed by the people of Shotton Colliery and east Durham.”