THE spectacular entrance to a housing development in Darlington is taking shape.

Artistic blacksmith Brian Russell has used six tonnes of steel to create two life-sized stags for the gateway to a 28-home development in Cleveland Terrace, Darlington.

The site was formerly part of the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College playing fields, but will soon comprise houses and flats.

The first stag has been positioned in the scene, which has been designed in honour of the Dukes of Cleveland, who lived at Raby Castle from 1832 to 1891.

Developer Bussey and Armstrong Homes named the development Leconfield, after Lady Leconfield, a member of the dukes' family.

Managing director Tony Cooper said: "All of the streets in that area are named after family members of the Raby estate. We discovered that Lady Leconfield was the only name not to have been used."