VILLAGERS' dreams of transforming land near their homes into a community garden have come true as work starts on an £80,000 project.

The High Grange Village Association has been working since 1999 to turn open land opposite their houses into a social and recreation area for residents.

After years of negotiations about the land, gaining funding and creating designs the diggers moved in on Tuesday morning to start work on the project.

It is hoped that work to create the garden will be completed by spring.

Once finished the community garden will feature somewhere for youngsters to play football, a bonfire pit, picnic area, butterfly garden, a maze and benches.

Dawn Richardson, from the village association, said that the project began when youngsters in the village asked if they could tidy up the land, where old garages once stood.

She said: "They came to us because they wanted something to do and it started from there.''

The association enlisted the help of Groundwork West Durham and managed to get a grant from the Countryside Agency to buy the land.

Other funding came from Living Places, Leader Plus, Century Radio and Marks and Spencer.

Michelle Bowman, also from the association, said: "There is nothing for the kids around here to do. We don't have a community centre or anything.

"We did want a park but we were told that we couldn't have one for insurance purposes.

"Groundwork have been excellent. We would not have been able to design the garden or raise funding without their help.

"People in the village have also been fantastic. They have been behind us and have supported us.''

As well as getting funding from various organisations the village has pulled together to raise funds of its own.

Mrs Richardson said: "We have had table-top sales and barbecues and other events that have been very well supported.''

Oliver Graham, a project officer from Groundwork, said the village had worked hard.

He said: "The fact that work is starting is a testament to the group itself and their dedication.

"We have been working on this for some time and are really pleased to be supporting it.''