WORK has begun on a £3m scheme that will restore an area of heavily- contaminated riverside land and return it to public use.

Specialist contractors have begun work on an 18-month reclamation scheme at Saltmeadows Riverside in Gateshead.

The work will involve small areas of heavily-contaminated soil being removed and other areas rendered safe to the public by sealing in the contaminated soil under a deep layer of clean soil and grass.

The car park and other access routes - the Keelman's Way national cycle route - will also be completely tarmaced to lock any contaminated soil underground and a completely new drainage system will ensure that contaminated soil will not escape.

Access to other areas - mostly steep, heavily wooded areas which are not be easily accessible to the public - will be further restricted by the use of fencing and hedges.

The colony of Kittiwakes nesting on the adjacent Kittiwake Tower will be safeguarded during the works.

Councillor Michael McNestry, Gateshead's Cabinet member responsible for the Environment, said: "We have spent a great deal of time convincing DEFRA of the importance of this work - and now they have agreed to fund the works."