WEAR Valley communities are sharing a £3.4m bonus, raised from the sale of council land.

A ten-point spending plan, drawn up by the district council, will smarten up towns and villages, provide new sports facilities, put more cash into community transport and support disabled people in their homes.

The payout was welcomed by councillors, when it was put to them at a meeting. They were asked to submit ideas for projects in their own wards as soon as possible.

The plan includes:

* £500,000 is earmarked for the final part of the Crook Renaissance programme, landscaping and smartening up buildings in Hope Street. Some money would be directed towards encouraging investment in shops;

* £400,000 will add to £230,000 allocated to Disabled Facility Grants, that pay for improvements to people's homes;

* £200,000 for Living Over Shops Grants, encouraging shop owners to create flats above town centre premises;

* £300,000 for youth sport and recreation across the district;

* £200,000 on community transport, extending existing schemes to other areas and possibly setting up new projects in Crook and Tow Law;

* £600,000 enhancing small villages;

* £500,000 for a community capital fund, giving small sums to local projects;

* £500,000 for the Elite Hall, Crook, where there are plans for a community arts centre and other projects;

* £100,000 at Theatre Corner, in Bishop Auckland, where there are plans for a memorial to comedian Stan Laurel;

* £100,000 in West Auckland, for improvements to East Green car park.

District council leader Neil Stonehouse said: "It is unusual to bring this amount of capital to the council half way through the financial year.

"All communities will benefit and members have a part to play in bringing forward schemes. It is crucial we do that quickly."