YOUNG people in Newton Aycliffe are celebrating the opening of a new £500,000 town park specifically designed with them in mind.

The park, off Burn Lane, has been created on the former Avenue Comprehensive playing fields, to give youngsters a place to hang out away from street corners in a safe and fun environment.

In response to calls from the town's young people for somewhere to meet and socialise, without disrupting other residents, dedicated areas have been set aside within the community park for them.

A teenzone with skateboard ramps and seating has been built, there is an enclosed all sports area for football, basketball and roller-hockey and a play area for toddlers through to young teenagers.

The park is not exclusively for children, as seating and picnic tables have provided throughout and a footpath and cycleway run through.

Staff at Great Aycliffe Town Council designed and planted formal gardens and beds, which will be maintained by a new full time gardener.

Bespoke fencing surrounds the site and an aluminium sculpture by County Durham artist Brian Brown, representing youth and eternal life, is a centrepiece for the garden.

In a bid to make the park safe and secure, the town council and Sedgefield Borough Council have teamed up to install CCTV cameras.

Sedgefield Borough Council's neighbourhood warden scheme plans to employ two rangers to protect the park.

The aim is to keep it safe for the young people using the area and other residents.

Until the new safety wardens are appointed, trained experienced wardens Brian Ward and Mike Toward will cover the patch using mountain bikes.

The extra staff will take the neighbourhood warden team from 13 officers to 15, plus a scheme co-ordinator.

Toilets and a nappy changing area have also been provided.

Yesterday, local school pupils, who helped to choose equipment, enjoyed a preview before the park was opened by the Mayor of Great Aycliffe, Maud Gray.

Coun Gray said: "People of the town have waited a long time for the Avenue site to be redeveloped, it is a marvellous park and I hope they will all enjoy it."

Great Aycliffe Council was given part of the land, which is alongside the new town centre shopping development, by builders CTP as part of an agreement with Durham County Council to use the site for commercial development.