A DASH of colour will return to a corner of Durham City thanks to a grant.

Flowerbeds outside St Margaret's Church, in Crossgate, have been left unplanted for some time due to safety concerns.

However, new railings are now being installed and the beds will then be planted, following a small grant from the North Road Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme (Hers).

The cash will also pay for the repair of the retaining wall at the west of the church and relaying the path leading to the front of the building.

The improvements to the church are one of several projects being funded by the scheme - others have included improvements to the shopfront of the Pancake Caf, Crossgate, new sash windows for North Road Methodist Church, repairs to the shops in Neville Street and resurfacing work on North Road.

Councillor Fraser Reynolds, who holds the environment portfolio on Durham City Council and is the leader of the authority since the resignation of Coun Sue Pitts earlier this week, said: "This has been a marvellous scheme that has seen a great deal of improvement to this historic part of the City of Durham.

"The latest project is just one of many that have benefited from the partnership between ourselves, the county council and English Heritage.

"The North Road scheme will draw to an end in March, so there is still time for home and business owners to take advantage of the funding available for repairs to their historic buildings."