A POSSIBLE site has been found in a Teesdale village for a controversial youth shelter.

PC Alison Race, the beat officer for Middleton-in-Teesdale, said she hopes to site the shelter in a field behind the play area near Wesley Terrace.

Subject to a few provisos, the Middleton Education Foundation which runs the play area has given its support to the plan, she said.

PC Race has been trying to find a site for the shelter for nearly 18 months.

She had obtained £3,500 from the police community fund but could not find a suitable location for the shelter.

Plans to site it in Gas Lane were dropped after a 41-name petition was given to the parish council.

Other potential sites, such as near the primary school and at Leekworth Gardens, have also met with opposition.

PC Race said: "We could still get some objections from this site but hopefully not the quantity we did before."

She added that it was not the ideal place for the shelter as it was still a little out of the way and would have preferred to see it on the village green.

However, the parish council felt this was going to be very difficult and would be a step backward.

Although she had lost the last year's funding, PC Race said he still hoped to be able to obtain grants for it.

If the shelter is sited near the playing field it would be fenced off and painted to blend in with the surrounding area.

There would also be a trial six month period after which it could be removed if it was not a success.

Middleton-in-Teesdale Parish council now hopes to consult with local residents about their views on the shelter.