A WHEELCHAIR-friendly footpath giving disabled people access to the countryside will be opened on Monday.

People with mobility problems will be able to use the pathway along the River Wear, near Wolsingham, in Weardale.

The "wheelchair walk" has been created through a partnership by Wear Valley Disabled Access Forum, Wolsingham Wayfarers and County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT).

The path is a 1.9km circular route, popular with walkers and ramblers since 1998, which has been developed with almost £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the CDENT. An opening ceremony will take place at the bowling green in Wolsingham, between 2.30pm and 3pm.