ECO-FRIENDLY log cabins are transforming a popular caravan park alongside a North-East riverside beauty spot.

Ageing static caravans are being replaced by 50 of the wood-look luxury homes at Finchale Abbey Park, near Durham.

The single-storey lodges look like traditional log cabins, but are clad in a new recycled plastic called ezedeck.

Decking surrounding the cabins is also made from the same easy-to-maintain weather-proof material, which has the look and feel of wood, without the splits, cracks and warps.

The plots have already attracted their first residents, civil servants Michael and Chris Storey, who swapped their traditional brick-built three-bedroom home in Lobley Hill, Gateshead, for a new life in the tranquillity of the County Durham countryside.

"To be honest, I had never even heard of the place before, but after we came across details on the Internet, we inquired further, and the more we thought about it, the more we liked it," said Mr Storey, who met his wife Chris on their respective first day at the Inland Revenue complex, at Longbenton, Newcastle, in November 1969.

He said: "It's a beautiful spot, with the remains of a Benedictine priory on site, and you would think you are miles from anywhere yet, in reality, we are only a few miles from Durham city centre, and we have a large supermarket at the Arnison Centre only a mile-and-a-half away.

"We love walking and we are out virtually every day, often after we come straight in from work."

Part of the attraction was the fact that their new low-maintenance home was fully furnished to their specification ready for them moving in, in March.

Mrs Storey said she had some misgivings, after 27 years in their previous home, but said they were soon overcome.

She said: "It was scary thinking what we were doing, and I know it sounds cheesy, but there is nothing now I don't like about it."

The Storeys are now providing an unofficial showhouse for prospective new neighbours.

Site manager Ann Watson, who co-owns the park with her brother, Eric Welsh, said they hoped to develop 50 lodges on site, ranging from £107,000 to £130,000.