A HUGE investment to upgrade safety and security in Darlington's parks and cemeteries is planned.

Darlington Borough Council proposes to spend £150,000 on an extensive programme of work.

The planned improvements include the relaying of footpaths at North Park, North Cemetery, Eastbourne Park and Stanhope Park.

Maintenance work would be carried out to improve the condition of footpaths in Sugar Hill Park and Green Park.

If approved at next week's council meeting, benches will be replaced in the parks and cemeteries, as well as extra bins for litter and dog waste.

In addition to the environmental improvement investments, councillors are also being asked to consider additions to Darlington's closed- circuit television security system.

About £100,000 could be spent on installing five cameras in parks and cemeteries, to help reduce vandalism and bring greater peace of mind for the public.

Councillor Dorothy Long, the local authority's cabinet member for leisure services, said: "We are responding to the requests of local people who use these parks regularly and want to see these improvements made and action taken to stop vandalism."

The proposed spending is the latest phase in a series of enhancements to parkland in the town. Work on the biggest scheme - a £3.9m refurbishment of South Park -is due to start soon.

The redevelopment has been funded by a National Lottery grant.

North Lodge Park was also recently awarded National Lottery funding worth £265,000 to provide a play area and upgrade the park.

The park, which is in a deprived area of town, was chosen to receive the cash because it best met the criteria laid down by the New Opportunities Fund.

Friends of North Lodge Park are also working on several projects to help to revive the ailing area