A grant of £5,000 has been donated to Shincliffe Community Association to help with the costs towards the regenaration of High Shincliffe Park & Playing field.

Rusty old play equipment dating from the 1960s has been replaced with the latest models and the park’s football pitch is getting an artificial surface.

The village has been raising money for more than two years and netted £5,000 itself by holding charity events while the bulk of the money came in grants from funding providers.

Villagers Jane Rann and Claire Ketley got the ball rolling and are delighted with the final result.

The new-look park has been open a few weeks and an official opening event was held on Friday (Friday, April 17).

Mrs Ketley applied for funding with the support of the Shincliffe Community Association. The events held locally included a chip butty ball at the local WI hut, a toddle in the park, a treasure hunt and a gastro night at a Durham hotel.

Mrs Ketley said she was delighted with the support the project had received.