PLANS have been unveiled for improvements to a village war memorial.

Billy Jones said he had applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant of £7,000 to spruce up the war memorial in Quarrington Hill, near Durham City.

He said: “The surroundings of the memorial are looking a bit drab.

“We plan to clear the shrubbery and put up a double wall to represent the trenches of the Western Front.

“We will also include a plaque with the names of 43 soldiers from the village who died in the two world wars.”

Mr Jones, a voluntary countryside ranger and member of the Quarrington Hill Village Parternship was among those who were instrumental in having the memorial installed outside the community centre in 2004.

The proposals to enhance the memorial will be co-ordinated by the partnership, which is chaired by Councillor Keith Pounder.

Mr Jones said Cassop Primary School would also be involved in the project, while Coxhoe Parish Council had given the scheme its backing.

Mr Jones said: “The Heritage Lottery Fund has indicated it will consider the application favourably and have asked for more detail.”

Anyone who wishes to find out more about the project can contact Mr Jones on 0191-377-2740.