WORK on Europe's longest golf course will start today, with bosses expecting the complex to create at least 500 jobs.

Up to 250 of the jobs are expected to be permanent once the complex, at Hurworth, near Darlington, is complete in 2009.

Course designers said the 7,800 yards will challenge "the world's greatest golfers".

The development, by Middlesbrough Football Club, will be built next to their training ground at Rockliffe Park.

The course architect is MJ Abbott, from Wiltshire, which is also reshaping Celtic Manor, near Cardiff, for the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Nigel Wyatt, from the company, said the Rockliffe course excited him the most.

He said: "We have worked on some of the UK's most famous courses, but I have to admit none excite as much as Rockliffe Hall.

"The vision applied to the plans is second to none. Not only will it be a stunning course, but the distance from the back tees make it Europe's longest.

"It will be a challenge for even the world's greatest golfers."

The 375-acre complex is the idea of Boro chairman Steve Gibson.

It will include a 63-bedroom, five-star hotel, lodges, apartments, spa, conference centre, leisure centre, and restaurant.

Developer Rockliffe Hall Limited, an offshoot of the football club, recently signed deals with MJ Abbott, Allied Irish Bank, and Shepherd Construction to allow work to begin.

Shepherd will start all major construction, including the conversion of Rockliffe Hall, a run-down 19th Century hall, later this year.

Peter Hodges, from the company, said: "Everyone has been eagerly anticipating the green light to start work on the site.

"Maintaining, restoring and enhancing the hall's historical elements is the number one priority, and will help create a fantastically grand, yet contemporary new development."

The development has been largely backed by the people of Hurworth, but there have been concerns over traffic. Hurworth Parish Council has repeatedly called for a traffic survey and a traffic-calming scheme.