RESIDENTS have told of their anger after a local park was excluded from an improvement scheme.

The Brinkburn Dene park, in Darlington, was not among several areas to feature in a £150,000 package announced by the borough council this week.

The money is to be spent on the relaying of footpaths at North Park, Eastbourne Park, Stanhope Park, Sugar Hill Park and Green Park.

But people living in the Denes area say their local facility is badly deteriorating and is in need of urgent work.

One resident said: "It is in a rather poor condition and the footpaths are just dreadful. We have just gradually watched this area deteriorate."

But the council insists that the area will feature in a five-year programme aimed at upgrading parks and cemeteries in the borough.

A spokesman said yesterday: "Local people have raised issues with us but it doesn't have the same problems as other areas.

"However, it certainly isn't being ignored, it's part of our plan and will feature significantly in the next five years."