FINAL approval has been given for a revamp of a town centre park which has fallen into disrepair.

North Lodge Park, near Gladstone Street, in Darlington, which celebrated its centenary this year, will receive £265,000 for repairs to restore it to its former Edwardian glory.

The National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund had approved the grant in outline earlier in the year, and has now agreed to the three-year spending plan on the park submitted by Darlington Borough Council.

At a Cabinet meeting earlier this week, councillors agreed the money be released so work can begin.

Work to be carried out includes:

* £25,000 for the installation of security cameras;

* £100,000 to create a play area;

* £10,000 for the revamp of the bandstand;

* £31,000 for a community arts project;

* £25,000 for the resurfacing of tennis courts;

* £68,000 to restore the footpath with new markings.

Extra funding to take the total for the park's revamp up to £354,000 is being sought from Sure Start, The Children's Fund and the Darlington Partnership.

Darlington council's Early Years development and childcare fund has already agreed to a grant of £10,000.

Community group the Friends of North Lodge Park launched a campaign this year to repair the park's 100-year-old bandstand, which had been damaged by vandals and had been used by drug addicts and alcoholics.

The council will submit another application to the New Opportunities Fund in November and all the grant money has to be spent by March 2007.