MULTI-million pound plans to regenerate a deprived former mining town have moved a step closer.

Derwentside District Council is bidding for £39m to fund its ten-year programme to turn around Stanley's fortunes.

Urban Renaissance Programme bosses at regional development agency OneNorthEast have already given the go-ahead for the council to submit an application for more than £1m towards a £3m project to redevelop the town's bus station.

Leader of the council Alex Watson said: "We are confident that this bid will be a success.

"The key criteria for projects to attract this funding is that they must clearly show there will be an economic benefit to Stanley at the end of it.

"The bus station more than fits this criteria, as do the other schemes we have in the pipeline."

The council has also been successful in a bid for £40,000 to conduct a feasibility study into its other plans for the centre of Stanley.

These include £3m to overhaul the Hustledown House site and £2.5m to improve Front Street. Other schemes include £750,000 to refurbish View Lane Park, £300,000 for a community resource and technology centre and £200,000 for signs and gateway improvements.

There are also projects for building a Sure Start centre, a new library and boosting security camera coverage.

A decision on the bus station application is expected in October this year.