A PLAN to decide the future of popular green spaces in Newcastle is to go ahead, thanks to a £49,400 windfall.

The National Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the money to the city council to help it draw up a blueprint for the future of the Ouseburn Parks.

It will go towards the costs of a six-month project by consultants Southern Green, which will plan the future of Jesmond Dene and the Heaton, Armstrong and Paddy Freeman's parks.

The project will identify areas of the parks that the community would like to see preserved and developed and will focus on the restoration of the parks' historic features.

The consultants should complete their report in the summer, when a bid for funding to implement their recomendations will be drawn up.

Councillor Ged Bell, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said: "Millions of people across Britain enjoy our parks, putting them right at the heart of the nation's cultural life.

"The public use them for all kinds of activities, ranging from bracing walks to simply relaxing in the sun.

"By maintaining and developing them we are safeguarding an important part of our heritage."