A COUNTRYSIDE haven for youngsters may be redeveloped to provide more exciting activities.

Carlton Outdoor Education Centre, at Carlton-in-Cleveland in the North York Moors National Park, has been operating for 70 years.

Schoolchildren from across Teesside stay at the centre while they take part in walking, climbing and other adventure activities.

Plans have been announced for a new building behind Carlton and Faceby CE Primary School. It will provide accommodation for 48 children multi-purpose activity room, games room, communal lounge and a main pavilion.

The plan will be discussed by the national park's planning committee next week.

The centre is managed by Hartlepool Borough Council on behalf of Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland councils.

In a letter to the commitee, Richard Attwood, agent for Hartlepool council said: "For many this is their first experience of the countryside.

"The centre buildings are outdated and in great need of modernisation."

Funding for the project has been secured through the New Opportunities Lottery Fund and local authorities.

Carlton Parish Council objected to the scheme, saying that a bungalow would have to be demolished to make way for car parking and the style of the new building would be out of keeping with the rural area and the rest of the village.