PRIDE in their community inspired a group of volunteers to take part in a village clean up and bulb-planting session.

Members of Sherburn Hill Environment Group approached local businesses for support to add to the backing of Durham City Council's SRB6 regeneration team.

It helped to meet the cost of the bulbs to allow the near 30-member group to clean up the village on Saturday.

Glen Duckett, of the regeneration community team, said it was one of several events staged in the area as part of Make a Difference Day, the country's biggest single day of volunteering.

"In Sherburn Hill, the residents have formed this environment group and have taken the initiative approaching local businesses for donations towards the cost of the spring flowering bulbs," he said.

"The group is also working with the SRB6 team to secure funding to improve the heart of their village."

SRB6 is the short-form for the latest round of single regeneration budget funding to aid many run-down former industrial areas, specifically ex-mining communities in the Durham area.

Sherburn Hill is one of a dozen villages targeted by the SRB6 team within the city council boundaries.

Meanwhile, the SRB6 team is facing a busy week holding half-term activities as part of its Play Opportunity Works! (POW) project designed for children aged five to 16 in the 12 former coalfield communities.

The programme includes arts, crafts, sports and games, plus a Halloween disco and several outings to places of interest.