COUNCIL chiefs have agreed to release more than £56,000 to allow a games area scheme on a Darlington estate to go ahead.

The borough council's cabinet approved the "cashback" deal for the Firthmoor Community Association this week.

In 2001, the Firthmoor Partnership asked the authority to buy the lease of a former pub on the estate to provide a games area.

But the site was later identified as being suitable for housing and, as a result, community leaders were asked to consider putting the games area elsewhere.

They agreed, but it meant £56,268 used by the council to buy the pub site must be returned to keep the games scheme viable.

A housing association is interested in developing the pub land, but it will be next year before it is known whether that can go ahead.

However, regional development agency One NorthEast said that, if the land was not used for the purpose for which it the council bought it, the funding had to be returned to the community association.

It has now been decided to re-site the games area in part of the car park next to the Maidendale House community centre.

However, that will be a more expensive scheme, with the association trying to raise the estimated £125,000 needed - and the new cash injection has been warmly welcomed.

Deputy leader of the council, Bill Dixon, said the demolition of the old pub was "absolutely the right thing to do" and described the latest development as a "win, win, win situation" for the area.