AFTER a decade of crippling economic hardship, a former North-East mining community has finally secured a £36m lifeline.

The go-ahead for work to start on the Dalton Flatts retail and leisure development in Murton, came yesterday at a meeting of Easington District Council.

Described as the biggest boost to east Durham in half a century, the multi-million shopping complex will bring 1,100 jobs to one of the region's worst unemployment blackspots.

When first lodged three years ago the planning application for the factory shop and leisure complex faced a barrage of opposition.

Durham County Council, along with other neighbouring authorities, protested that the development would harm existing shopping centres and the proposal was eventually called in by the Government.

In January of last year, Secretary of State for the Environment John Prescott ruled in favour of the venture.

Since that time, London Amsterdam Developments have taken over from the original developers and plans have been refined, amended and extended.

At yesterday's meeting of Easington council head of planning and building control, Ian Forster said that no objections had been received to the newly-completed proposals, which were ready to proceed.

Richard Robson, director of strategic policy and regeneration at the authority, told the special meeting that work on the project would begin in March next year with a completion date of Easter 2003.

He said there had been huge obstacles along the way, but that, thanks to a successful public/private partnership, Dalton Flatts was ready to proceed and "provide a huge boost for the area".

Leader of the council, Alan Napier, describing the development as the best Christmas present the area could wish for, said: "We have had to jump through fiery hoops to win approval for Dalton Flatts, but at long last it has become a reality."

Deputy Leader of the authority, Robin Todd, said: "This is the largest single act of confidence in public and private investment in this area since the foundation of Peterlee.

"And I hope this development will bring people back to east Durham, instead of leaving it."

Murton Action Group, which fought alongside the council to secure the retail park, sent its congratulations on securing the development to the meeting