YOUNG people helped to draw up a blueprint for the regeneration of County Durham's town and village centres.

A party of seven youngsters went on a fact-finding mission to Holland to identify ways to improve urban and rural centres.

Durham County Council plans to enhance the streetscape of up to 46 communities over the next five to six years as part of its urban renaissance programme.

The council will invest around £4m into the programme, which when matched from other funding sources could see £15m ploughed into the scheme.

But the county council has pledged to work with townsfolk and villagers in each location to ensure any changes meet with their approval.

As part of the process a group of young ambassadors from former colliery communities Wheatley Hill and Seaham went Dutch to see how urban regeneration is tackled in Holland.

The youngsters visited Rotterdam as well as the smaller nearby community of Schiedam to take in such features as road and pavement design, safe storage of bicycles, safety measures separating vehicle users from cyclists, building design and use of public space.

All agreed that the wide pavement areas, the clean and clutter-free town centres and the attractive seating areas should all be considered when drawing up designs in Durham.

Earmarked in the first phase of the enhancement programme are Annfield Plain, Catchgate, Wheatley Hill, Thornley, Ferryhill Station, Chilton, Coundon, Wheatbottom, Tow Law, Bearpark, New Brancepeth, Ushaw Moor, Sacriston, Pelton, Cockfield, Evenwood and Ramshaw.