PAST and present have come together in style at a Darlington park.

Phase one of a £3.9m revamp of the town's South Park culminated as new main gates were put in place.

And children dressed in Victorian costume took a triumphant ride through the new entrance in a horse and carriage.

The park's two main gates at Parkside have been replicated and two side gates restored using traditional techniques from the nineteenth century.

At the unveiling last Friday, local historian George Flynn said the new gates were "marvellous".

"They are very true to life," he said. "Which is good considering we only had one picture of the originals.

"We have plenty of craftspeople around these days, it is just a question of money. Once such people worked for a pittance, but not any more."

Coun Lee Vasey, the council's cabinet member for leisure, said: "This is another step along the way of a wonderful restoration of this gorgeous park. There is more work to do but we have got lots done. And it is hitting the right note so far as everyone is so interested."

Created in 1853, South Park was the first of its kind in the North-East, with Gateshead and Middlesbrough following on in the 1860s. At the time it was hailed as "a park for all classes".

Blacksmith Will Wilson from Bedale did much of the traditional work and Lost Art of Wigan handled most of the work on the hand-made gates and railings.

"The work was painstaking and I prefer contemporary jobs because you are so limited with Victorian style," said Mr Wilson.

"But I am from Darlington and it's good to see this has been done."