PLANS for a North-East helicopter centre, combining a museum and ground-breaking venture in the rehabilitation of disabled former Armed Forces personnel, have been given the go-ahead.

Durham county councillors on the area planning committee meeting unanimously endorsed the new facility at Shotton Airfield, next to the Peterlee Parachute Centre.

Durham Helicopter Centre plans to provide employment opportunities and back-to-work skills training for disabled ex-service men and women.

There will also be opportunities for learning for schools, young people and community groups in the field of aviation history, engineering and technology.

The maintenance workshop will be used to carry out servicing of helicopters in use and dismantling obsolete machines.

The work will be carried out by aviation engineering students under the supervision of qualified engineers.

The facility is the brainchild of retired Army Air Corps engineer Duncan Moyse.

Developers behind the scheme will launch a fundraising campaign in the new year to raise £2m needed for the building.