DEVELOPERS who own a derelict former school and nursing home on the outskirts of a Teesdale village have until the middle of next month to tidy it up.

Teesdale District Council wrote to Kebbell Homes and Blackthorn Homes to tell them to carry out repair work to the St Peter's site, in Gainford, to make it safer and more secure.

Hundreds of residents, and representatives from parishes, district councils, the police and landowners went to a public meeting about the site in February.

The council agreed to visit the site with health and safety officers to decide what work needs to be done.

Teesdale District Council has instructed the following work to be carried out by May 14:

* All the windows and doors to be boarded up with timber and secured. Those facing the road should be painted to look like windows

* Cover up all open manholes

* Remove discarded debris and litter

* Cut back overgrown plants but allow existing trees to remain in place

* Ask the owners of the burnt-out former dormitory to restore or demolish it

* The modern former classroom block on the south-west of the site to be demolished.

Wendy Withers, chairwoman of Gainford Parish Council, said: "We are pleased the district council has listened to the people and taken some action.

"I know there are some people who want to see the whole place flattened, but feasibly we can't expect that because the main building is well built and it's not going to fall down.

"But we could have two of the buildings demolished within the next few weeks, so that's something."

Trevor Watson, head of planning at Teesdale District Council, said: "We are working with the landowners to improve the site on a voluntary basis.

"However, if the work is not carried out, we will consider taking stronger measures."

Jon England, the managing director of Blackthorn Homes, said: "It is our intention to work with Teesdale council on this matter - and we are keen to work with it to make sure the site is secure."