A PADDLING pool in a popular park is set to undergo a renovation.

A total of £250,000 is to be spent replacing the ageing pool at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street and creating a new play area.

Durham County Council says the existing paddling pool, which has been a popular feature in the park for more than 15 years and attracts thousands of visitors during the summer months, is reaching the end of its life.

Over recent years, the council has made repairs to keep it open but feels now is the time for a complete overhaul.

Funding of £250,000 will pay for a splash pad which will incorporate interactive water features and will be a new attraction to the park.

Cllr Maria Plews, the council’s Cabinet member for leisure, libraries and lifelong learning, said: “The paddling pool is a very popular feature in the park and the council will be investing a considerable amount of money to improve the facility for families to use and we hope this will also attract new visitors to Chester-le-Street throughout the summer months.”

Cllr Tracie Smith, Chair of Chester- le- Street and District Area Action Partnership, said: “I am delighted this investment is going into the park and the AAP are in the process of setting up a Friends group to work with the council to develop the park in the future.”

Designs will be reviewed by the new Friends of the Riverside park group.

The council will undertake a procurement exercise to appoint a contractor for the work and a project team to work with the group to develop the project.

Work is expected to begin in April.