YOUNG anglers have netted £3,000 to help towards the creation of new fishing ponds in Firthmoor.

Housebuilders Barratt Homes and Haslam Homes, who are helping to regenerate the area with a new housing project, each donated £1,500 to the nature reserve trust to help towards new fishing ponds at Maidendale Nature reserve. Firthmoor Community Partnership has been working with the nature reserve and angling club to build the fishing ponds as part of a larger scheme to create a nature parks with walks and cycle tracks.

The purpose-built ponds will help to conserve natural wildlife ponds currently home to the great crested newt.

Rob George, countryside officer for Darlington Borough Council, said: "Creating a nature reserve so close to where people live will help enormously in revitalising this part of Darlington."