A BLUEPRINT for bringing back jobs to Weardale was launched this week with a challenge to residents to 'make it work.'

The Weardale Task Force sent out summaries of its strategy, Renewing Weardale, to 4,000 homes this week following a launch on Tuesday.

Seven flagship projects are key to its success. The most ambitious - and, for some, the most fanciful - is the development of Lafarge Cement's old Blue Circle site at Eastgate into a unique 'Eco Disney' model village with hot springs and other natural energy sources.

A hotel, 'green' housing and business workshops, cafes and craft shops, alternative agriculture, a railway museum, nature and wildlife trails, downhill rides and an adventure playground would attract visitors and create hundreds of jobs.

The £5m Weardale Railway is part of a transport strategy linking road and rail. Ten stations would serve communities between Bishop Auckland and Eastgate offering commuter and heritage services attracting 90,000 visitors a year.

Wolsingham Business Park, on land next to Weardale Steel, would focus on 70 high-spec business units and 70 new homes.

A broadband service would offer speedy access to the Internet.

The Stanhope Market Town Initiative is already under way and includes new workshops for business start ups, the development of the town hall for community use and improvements to paths and bridges along the River Wear.

Business support would be offered through a Rural Bureau, at Stan hope. Harperley Camp, chosen for the launch of the strategy, is already being developed as a major tourist attraction centred round a Prisoner of War Museum.

Task Force chairman John Hamilton said: "The dale stands on the threshold of a new era.

"During the next ten years the strategy, if accepted by the people who live and work in Weardale, could revolutionise the economy of the dale, creating a vibrant and viable community of which we can all be immensely proud.

"I believe the majority of people in Weardale will accept the challenge and work with the various agencies and authorities, not only because there is no alternative, but because they care passionately about the well being of this special part of England."