MILES of rough back streets could be transformed under an innovative jobs scheme being considered by council bosses.

Wear Valley regeneration officers hope to tap into European funding so that unadopted lanes around the district can be brought up to standard.

They are working on plans for a pioneering employment project which would offer the twin benefits of brightening up the district while offering training at work.

Unmade streets are normally the responsibility of home owners but it often proves difficult to persuade people to pay to bring them up to the standard required before they can be handed over to the highways authority

Dene Valley Parish Council has already submitted a £2m list of projects in its area, which chairman Chris Foote Wood estimates could be completed in six months.

He said: "It is simply not acceptable in the 21st century for people to have to live with unmade streets next to their homes. Making up unmade streets has always been one of our long term objectives for the area.

"It is an essential element in the complete rehabilitation of the Dene Valley.

"This one project alone would massively improve the amenity of the area, encourage further investment and greatly enhance the quality of life for all Dene Valley residents.

"We understand there is a huge underspend of European aid to the North-East and that there is also a large underspend in the Single Programme managed by One NorthEast. If this money is not claimed by the end of 2003 it will be lost."

District council leader Olive Brown said: "Making up these streets would make a big difference to all our communities."

The district's regeneration director Bob Hope said: "There is an obvious need to carry out this work throughout the Wear Valley but getting the money to do it is very difficult. We hope that by setting up a project to improve people's skills we can come up with a bid which will be acceptable to Europe and One NorthEast.

"We also need the agreement of Durham County Council, who would eventually adopt the roads."