DELIGHTED council officials revealed yesterday that a cash windfall will be put into projects in Darlington.

A programme of improvements worth £300,000 is to be carried out on streets, parks and cemeteries across the town.

The money is part of a £2.2m boost which the authority received after a lengthy arbitration dispute with Durham County Council came to an end.

Darlington successfully claimed the cash as its share of a £12m local development fund which was held by Durham when the two authorities split up in a political reorganisation in 1997.

Council leader Councillor John Williams announced that the £300,000 would be spent on "citizen priorities" - schemes highlighted in council surveys as work that residents want to see carried out.

The cash has been set aside by the council in addition to planned spending for 2003/04.

The scheduled work will include:

* Restoration and repair of park and cemetery fittings, including benches, lamp-posts and fences.

* Restoration and repair of town centre street fittings including railings, bollards and chain fencing

* Additional footpath repairs over and above repairs already scheduled.

* Provision of more closed -circuit TV coverage in Darlington

* Litter and street cleaning programmes.

Coun Williams said: "This is a real boost for the town. We have fought long and hard for this money, which rightfully belongs to the Darlington people, so it is only right that we invest a large part of it on improvements to the town that they have told us are their priorities."

The battle between council chiefs in Darlington and Durham is to continue at appeal. The county council is contesting the arbiter's ruling that £1.1m in interest, built up since the case started six years ago, should also be paid to Darlington.

The county council believes since ownership of the £2.2m was uncertain throughout the case, the payment of interest should not be backdated over that time.