A NEW garden is to be built on Saltburn's upper promenade near the top of the cliff lift.

Costing £365,000, it will include an interpretative fossil area and mosaic features.

The scheme is taking nearly half the £750,000 earmarked for improvements to both the lower and upper proms, announced last week by Redcar and Cleveland Council.

It is the culmination of more than a year of design and partnership work with local group Saltburn Forward and will be managed by environmental charity Groundwork South Tees. It is due to be started next month and completed in a year's time.

Coun Vera Moody, cabinet member for economic development, said: "The upper prom development will not only improve the area's physical environment, but also offer opportunities for education and community participation."

Groundwork will also involve community groups and schools in workshops lead by local artists where ideas for an interpretative fossil garden and mosaic features will be developed.

Construction work will be carried out by the Wise Group, a local Intermediate Labour Market provider, which will supply six trainees and a supervisor.

Improvements will include better access to the cliff lift by providing a ramp suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, new seating, including a compass seat, and a new set of railings.

The £385,000 lighting scheme on the lower prom will spotlight the 711ft-long pier.

Norman Bainbridge, chairman of the Friends of the Pier, said it was "a dream come true." The group had contributed £5,000 from its £6,000 kitty towards the project.

He said the Friends had discussed a lighting scheme in about 2002, but the council already had one in mind.

"It is fulfilling a dream for our group, which was set up in 1996. We are very much looking forward to the pier being lit. The lighting will be modern and sophisticated."

A council spokesman said the lighting scheme would take in the chalets, the pier and cliff lift, but not the new seafront building nor toilet block, though they might be included in a future project.

Funding for the work has mainly come from Government sources. The council and Saltburn Pier Entertainments are also contributing.