A FIVE-DAY celebration to mark the transformation of a once-failing visitor attraction will take place next month.

The Crimdon Dene area of County Durham had fallen into decline, prompting a £500,000 project to revitalise the section of Durham's Heritage Coast.

The ten-month scheme is almost finished, with new wetland areas developed, concrete water channels removed, and bridges and seating areas built.

Landscape artist and sculptor Keith Barrett is this week putting the finishing touches to the project.

As well as returning a redundant car park to grassland and creating footpaths through the dunes, he has also created stone and timber features set into the contours of the land, some of which are at natural viewpoints.

To celebrate the improvements, Easington District Council will hold a family festival from Wednesday to Sunday, June 22 to 26.

The Mad Alice Theatre Company and CTC Theatre will give open-air performances of Shakespeare's magical comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream in the dene at 7.30pm each evening.

The play is an adapted version set in Crimdon in 1905.

On Saturday, June 25, the celebration continues with performances from two of the county's leading colliery bands -Fishburn and Easington Colliery.

Tickets for the play and concert are available from Peterlee Information Centre on 0191-586 5540.

The five-day event will conclude with a community carnival.