The next phase of plans to build the world's longest pedestrian rope bridge in County Durham could start in the next few months.

Over the past few months, work has been ongoing with plans to build the bridge over the River Tees in Barnard Castle.

The £4.5 million scheme is being co-ordinated by Teesdale Marketing, a not-for-profit company set up to promote the dale and local businesses.

The chairman of Teesdale Marketing, restaurateur Bill Oldfield said: "It's still ongoing. There's been sensitive negotiations with people like landowners and the next stage will be a public consultation as part of a planning application.

"I can't really say when this will take place as it's not like running a business but I would hope sometime in the next few months."

The scheme involves the construction of a 550 foot rope bridge at a height of 150 feet between two abutments from a demolished railway viaduct.

As well as the bridge, the plans include a car park, visitors' centre and a woodland adventure experience.

A commercial feasibility study into the scheme estimated it could attract an extra 165,000 visitors a year into the area.

This could bring an estimated £1.15 million into the local economy and generate an extra 87 jobs.

However, there been criticism of the scheme from some local residents who say it may have a detrimental impact upon the environment and also interfere with the nearby golf course.