A COUNTRYSIDE attraction in Hartlepool has capped a year of success by being hailed as a model of good practice.

Summerhill, a 100-acre site off Catcote Road, is being developed by Hartlepool Borough Council for a range of sports, outdoor pursuits and conservation. It has been praised by independent consultants appointed by Sport England.

They were commissioned to assess how effectively a £934,288 grant awarded by the Sport England Lottery Fund in 1998 has been spent.

The consultants said they were impressed with the design, partnership working and disabled access arrangements, while also noting the site's positive contribution to the overall regeneration of the area.

The site used to be a network of eight fields used for animal grazing and farming. The Sport England Lottery Fund grant was one of the largest of its kind in the country when it was awarded.

The money has since funded a number of projects, including the construction of a visitor centre, a purpose-built boulder park and a range of outdoor sporting facilities.

Tony Davison, Summerhill manager, said: "This ringing endorsement really is the icing on the cake after a year of tremendous success."

The site was recently awarded Local Nature Reserve status and a day of celebration is planned for April 25 to mark the achievement.

Last year, Summerhill also scooped the Hartlepool Civic Society Rosebowl, the main trophy in the society's annual awards.

It also earned praise from minister of sport and tourism Richard Caborn when he performed the official opening in July.