PLANS to create an £80,000 forest on the outskirts of Darlington have been delayed because of a shortfall in funding.

The bulk of the tree planting for the South Burdon community woodland, along the A66 Darlington bypass, was due to start in November.

But the Forestry Commission has decided it cannot afford to carry out the work this year and has not set a date for when planting will resume.

District forester Peter Green said: "We have put it on hold for a little while. It's mainly a budget thing. There's some shortfall in the commission's budget, largely due to the falling price of timber. We have to make savings.

"We don't know when we are going to put it back on the agenda yet."

A sign advertising the woodland has already been put up on the A66 by Tees Forest.

Mr Green said: "We'd like to get it established because the community is expecting to see it there. It's really on the doorstep of Darlington. It's just disappointing we can't get on here."

About 21 hectares of the 80 hectare site have already been planted, with each hectare costing about £1,000 to plant and maintain.

Tees Forest project director Glenn McGill said: "Quite a lot of trees have been planted but obviously it's a huge site. It was originally going to be planted over the next two years.

"We can't say for certain now when it will be complete, but it's still likely to be the next two or three years."

The community woodland is a joint project between Tees Forest, which was created to replace lost woodland in the Tees Valley, and Darlington Borough Council.

When complete, it will include a bridge across the A66, near the Brick Train, for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

That is likely to be funded by the council as part of its Eastern Transport Corridor.

Tees Forest also wants to build a visitor centre in the woodland.

"Darlington has lots of nice countryside but it doesn't have any places where people can go and visit a visitor centre," said Mr McGill. "We are working with the council to try to rectify that."