A PLAY park project which won £80,000 on a TV show will go ahead, despite a last-minute planning hitch.

Years of campaigning for the Sir Bobby Robson Park, in Langley Park, were almost ruined when the village's sports and social club, which owned some of the land, ceased trading.

In March, the project was two days from collapse.

But the designs were successfully altered and orders for a skate park, shelter and multi-use games area have now been placed.

Supporters hope the park, which is partly funded by Lottery cash won on ITV's People's Millions show, could open by the end of the summer.

Karen Gibson, community worker for the Esh, Quebec, Ushaw Moor and Langley Park (Equal) partnership, said: "It was so frustrating having got so close.

Before Christmas, we thought we just had to sign a couple of documents.

"But then the problems started, and there was a possibility we would lose the funding. But we kept the Lottery informed, they were supportive and we've now placed the orders."

All the land for the £200,000 park, behind the village's cricket club, will now be leased from Derwentside District Council, which has contributed £90,000 to the project.

Alison Hiles, the chairwoman of Equal, who has campaigned for a park to be created for 20 years, said: "It's a tremendous relief.

"There has been no usable playground in Langley Park for a long time and there are a lot of children in the village. They either have no playground or have to travel a long way to find one."

Mrs Gibson said the park could be expanded, depending on securing extra funding.

Mrs Hiles said the sports and social club's new owners were keen to be part of the project.

Designs for Sir Bobby Robson Park, which is named after the former Newcastle United and England manager who lived in the village as a child, were drawn up following consultation with young people in Langley Park and pupils at Fyndoune Community College, in Sacriston.

Youngsters had the chance to choose their favourite during an exhibition in February. Parts of a number of designs were combined to create the final blueprint.