VILLAGERS say their chances of success in this year's Britain in Bloom contest have been ruined.

Northumbrian Water has spent months renewing pipes in Aycliffe Village and the surrounding area.

Residents say efforts to reinstate areas of the village green damaged by workers are not up to standard.

Councillor Billy Blenkinsopp, whose house overlooks the green, said: "We understand and appreciate that the work's got to be done.

"But all they've done is throw down some top soil, which looks more like rubble, and a bit of grass seed.

"Britain in Bloom is the most prestigious award we can go for, and if they had reinstated the green properly to the level that it was, we might have had a little bit of a chance. Not now though."

Much of the work in the village, which won a prize in last year's Northumbria in Bloom contest, is done by a group of volunteers, most of them pensioners.

Sponsorship deals with local companies, including the nearby Flymo factory, had given them high hopes of national success.

Coun Blenkinsopp, who said he had heard of similar problems throughout Newton Aycliffe, consulted Mark Binney, of Tynedale Garden Services, for an independent opinion.

Mr Binney said workers had not allowed for subsidence, which would lead to deep ruts, and that stones and debris could rise to the surface because the soil had not been graded.

He said: "If you've got children using the grass for recreation, they could easily trip on those ruts. It's very poor standard for a public place, and could lead to injuries."

A spokesman for Northumbrian Water said: "There have been quite a few complaints so we have been liaising with Durham County Council to agree a programme of work.

"They have advised us of the priority we should give each place, and that started this week with the number one priority, which is Aycliffe Village.

"We have gone back with top soil and seed, so the grass will grow quite quickly. Hopefully, it will have grown back by the time the judging takes place."