PLANS to create a wildlife haven in a village are expected to move a step closer this week.

Bishop Middleham, near Ferryhill in County Durham, was the focus of national attention last summer when a pair of rare bee-eater birds became the first to breed successfully in this country for almost 50 years.

Now villagers are hoping to create a wetland garden for wildlife, to benefit the whole community.

The Countryside Agency will fund 75 per cent of the work through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.

Sedgefield Borough Council's cabinet is expected to provide the final £10,000 needed when it meets on Friday.

A report says: "The scheme will provide an excellent community resource with high biodiversity and educational value through creating publicly accessible habitats for a wide variety of flora and fauna."

Bishop Middleham Community Wildlife Garden will be on land previously used for allotments, but which has not been used for four years because flooding left it permanently under water.

Bishop Middleham Parish Council, which leases the land from the borough council , has developed the scheme with residents.

The borough's countryside team, led by Jonathan Elmer, has helped develop the plan, which incorporates designs and ideas from children at the local primary school.