A FORMER pit village's main shopping street is in line for a facelift.

Front Street, Wheatley Hill, east Durham, is due to be improved and villagers are being asked their opinion on the proposals.

The scheme is likely to focus on shops, paving, street lighting, parking, the Vincent Corner crossroads, and burying power cables.

Wheatley Hill Community Partnership is working on the scheme with Durham County Council, which is giving an initial £225,000, Easington District Council and Groundwork East Durham.

There are also plans for a sculpture and a war memorial plaque listing village servicemen who died in both world wars and the Korean War.

People can see the proposals and air their views at Wheatley Hill Workingmen's Club from 9.30am to 8.30pm on Monday and Tuesday, and from 9.30am to 6.30pm on Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for the community partnership urged villagers to attend.

"Your views are so important at this consultation stage before any work is carried out," she said. "We want to know how the funding should be best utilised in the Front Street."

Designs for the sculpture by residents and pupils at Wellfield School will be on display along with plans by the village community association for a memorial garden.

Visitors will also be able to see what the Sure Start family centre planned for Jack Lawson Terrace will include.

Wheatley Hill Mothers Club will sell light refreshments and all profits will go to the breast cancer charity, Breakthrough.