PEOPLE who run an award-winning play area say they have been denied more than £100,000 that could have gone on improving its facilities.

A housing boom has seen developers win planning permission to build more than 340 homes in Delves Lane, on the outskirts of Consett.

The village community association is looking for grants to maintain its play area and all-weather sports pitch.

But cash given by the building firms to Derwentside District Council for play area provision in the village will go on parks elsewhere.

The authority's play strategy aims to create four "super parks" and eight smaller areas across the district.

Tony Westgarth, community association chairman, said: "It is outrageous. Wherever new houses are built, be it Delves Lane, Leadgate, or Blackhill, the money for play areas should be spent in that area - not on the council's super parks.

"We have won various awards, are in the top ten per cent most deprived areas in the country, and still cannot get any financial support from local government."

Under planning laws, builders creating estates must either include a play area, or pay £300 per house towards maintaining existing play schemes nearby.

Yuill Homes has won planning permission to build 251 properties on land formerly used by the Explorer Group and Elddis Caravans.

The eight-hectare estate will be a mixture of two to five-bedroomed homes, with detached, semi-detached and terraced houses.

The company will hand over £75,600 as a commuted sum to go towards play facilities - but none of it is identified for Delves Lane.

The £145,000 park and floodlit, all-weather sports pitch attached to Delves Lane village hall was built in 2000 after a bid to the National Lottery.

It is considered one of the best sites of its kind in County Durham and was the only play area in the region to win a national Green Pennant award in 2002.

Its future was secured last year when Barratt Homes, which is building 97 houses in the village, donated £32,000.

But the developer also had to pay a further £29,000 to the council, which was not spent on Delves Lane.

Council leader Alex Watson said: "The Barratts development was only approved by councillors on the understanding that Delves Lane would get that money.

"Our play strategy is crucial for the whole of Derwentside, not just Delves Lane.