VILLAGERS are to help draw up an ambitious refurbishment scheme for their busy shopping street.

Durham County Council has handed over £250,000 to Wheatley Hill for the facelift of the commercial heart of the community.

It is hoped that the windfall will act as a trigger for matching funds from other sources to ensure the completion of the extensive works.

But before the Front Street facelift begins, people living in the community will be given the chance to help decide priorities, suggest projects and influence design schemes.

Wheatley Hill Community Partnership will be inviting local people to attend a public meeting in the village's community centre on January 8 next year.

A spokeswoman for the Partnership yesterday paid tribute to county councillor Morris Nicholls for all his determined work in securing the initial £250,000 of funding.

Former county council chairman Coun Nicholls revealed that the funding was the first of its kind to be granted in east Durham.

The money, he said would be used to provide improved street lighting, footpath work, traffic calming measures, shop front improvements and other environmental works in the village..

Initial plans, he said, were already being produced and following a visit from county council officials public consultations would begin.

Everyone, he said, would be given the opportunity to have their say: "We are particularly keen to get the views of young people in the community.''

Following this process, detailed designs will be produced and publicly displayed for final comments.

Coun Nicholls said it was anticipated that work would begin on the project in May or June of next year.

The upgrading of the shopping street, he said was much needed.

"It is brilliant that we have got this money and hopefully it will be boosted by additional funding," he said.

Coun Nicholls revealed that a similar scheme had also been given the go-ahead for neighbouring Thornley which will be carried out in 2005.