AN area of wasteland at Seaton Carew has been given a new lease of life.

The land at Berwick Street, locally known as The Common, has been transformed from a wilderness into a sensory garden.

Old railway sleepers have been used to form three raised flowerbeds, which display a range of plants.

They include lavender, red hot poker, lemon bale, sage and campanula.

The work has been carried out by Hartlepool Borough Council with help from neighbouring residents and the local Environmental Task Force.

Caine Spence, the council's countryside access officer, has coordinated the improvement of the wasteland, which has two public footpaths running through it.

He said: "In the past, no-one has claimed responsibility for ownership of the land and it has always been an eyesore for local residents.

"Consequently, the council joined together with local residents and designed a scheme, which in essence, has brought a little bit of the countryside into the town.

"Residents have agreed to care for and maintain the sensory garden and I am sure it is going to be a feature in Berwick Street for many years to come."