PROPOSALS are being drawn up to enhance two village centres.

Durham County Council is putting together an environmental improvement scheme for Bearpark, in conjunction with Durham City Council, and the village's parish council.

A similar package, which also includes a building and shop front grant scheme, is being drafted for the centre of Annfield Plain, near Stanley.

Both projects fall under the county council's urban and renaissance banner.

An exhibition showing the proposed enhancement to part of Auton Stile, Bearpark, will go on show in the village community centre today, from 2pm to 8pm, when county council staff will outline the scheme.

Councillor Don Ross, deputy leader of the county council, said the first phase will be to put overhead cables under the ground.

It will be followed by further phases to install new street lighting, paving and traffic calming measures next to the shops in Auton Stile.

"The exhibition will allow people to see what is intended and have their say on the choice of street furniture," said Councillor Ross.

Villagers can view the exhibition until September 12, with the initial cabling work likely to start next month.

The scheme, backed by the Government's Single Regeneration Budget, is expected to take up to three years to complete.

A second exhibition will open in Annfield Plain on Monday, to explain to people how they can claim a 70 per cent building and shopfront grant as part of an environmental improvement project.

It will be based in an exhibition van in the Co-op car park, between 12.30pm and 7.30pm, and county council staff will be available to offer advice and information.

The exhibition will then be displayed in Annfield Plain Library until September 23.

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, the county council cabinet member for the environment, said the scheme had worked well in other villages in the county, where it had helped to restore the traditional character of buildings