RESIDENTS came out in force yesterday (November 17) to put some finishing touches to a pocket park in north Durham.

Volunteers were invited to get involved in planting works at Camperdown Avenue Pocket Park, surrounded by Park Road North, Camperdown Avenue and Blind Lane, in Chester-le-Street.

The £45,000 project is being led by North Lodge Residents Association and Groundwork North East and supported by a Biffa award and Durham county councillor Peter May’s neighbourhood budget.

The project has seen improvements made to the access track and the creation of a surfaced and accessible loop footpath around the site – to enable less mobile residents and parents with pushchairs to get around.

New fencing and benches will be installed, with additional planting of trees and plans, while a level area will be created for ball games.

Coun May said: “I have been a ward councillor for 25 years and always wanted to do something with this area of land for the community, but could never get funding as a district councillor.

“Since becoming a county councillor I have been given a neighbourhood budget and have been able to use this to help get the project underway. I hope that it becomes a little bit of an oasis for residents.”