A COMMUNITY'S attempt to build a play park for local children has taken an important step forward as bulldozers prepare to move on to the site.

Local firm TUC Plant Hire has agreed to send a team to clear the site of the play area being built at Cookson Place, in South Stanley.

The news is an important milestone in the year-long campaign to create a park for the 150 or so families who live in the area, who have had to travel a mile to the village of Craghead for their nearest play facility.

When the estate was built three years ago, there were plans to incorporate a play park, but they fell through, and now members of Cookson Place Residents' Association have taken it upon themselves to raise the £40,000 needed.

Derwentside District Council has donated a parcel of wasteland on the edge of the estate and work is about to start to clear the rubble and level the site ready for gardens and play equipment to be installed.

Association treasurer Mark Reed said: "This is a wonderful gesture for the children of our community.

"The biggest obstacle we have come up against was clearing this plot of land, which will take a couple of days work. We are very grateful to them for their help."

Residents will now turn their attention to finding a donor who can help with garden supplies so they can create grassed areas and a garden for children to play in.

Mr Reed said: "We are determined as a community to get this play area up and running."