TEAMS from Durham County Council joined forces with Wingate Parish Council to make an environmental difference to the village.

The old level crossing gates, and railway signal in Wingate will be replaced using funding secured by the parish council, and the council’s teams will spruce up the surrounding area by installing a fence around a grassed area planted with bulbs.

Durham county councillor Leo Taylor is also funding the repositioning of a nearby bus shelter to make the new gates more visible.

The project, which started in March, is the follow-up to a previous partnership environment drive last September.

Eighteen pupils from Wellfield Community School litter picked 18 bags of rubbish from the old pit site, the Probation Service and the council’s Clean and Green team removed a tonne-and-a-half of rubbish from the site, eleven untidy yards were also tackled and 13 dogs microchipped.

Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “This environmental partnership scheme is an excellent example of the council working together with communities to improve local areas."

Kevin McGonnell, Chair of Wingate Parish Council added: “The former crossing gates along with the railway signals form part of the history of Wingate. Sadly the gates particularly have deteriorated to such an extent that they need to be replaced as they are unsightly and a bit of hazard.”