TWO villages are getting a new look thanks to facelift schemes costing £93,000.

A £55,000 environmental project has started in Shotley Bridge that will include traffic calming measures, and in Witton Gilbert new paving and street lighting is being installed.

The £38,000 Witton Gilbert scheme, funded by Durham County Council and supported by the parish council, follows an enhancement scheme when the village bypass was built five years ago.

It included paving and street lighting at both ends of the village and the new scheme, which started on Monday, will concentrate on the village centre, close to the Travellers Rest pub.

Paving is being laid on the south side of the village and kerbing, bollards, litter bins and street lighting are also being installed.

The council says the work will be sympathetic to the character of the village and match the scheme carried out five years ago.

Work has started at Shotley Bridge, following public consultation, on a scheme expected to be finished by Easter. County council cabinet member John Davies said: "These two villages are being improved in a manner sympathetic to their very different characters."