WEBSITE designer Cameron Gordon is keeping his home village at the forefront of the modern world of communications.

The former colliery community of Langley Park, in County Durham, is heralded on what Cameron says is "probably the best village website in the country".

Backed by a few friends and fellow computer enthusiasts, Cameron has launched langleypark.net allowing locals and exiles across the world to keep in touch with events in the River Browney valley village, west of Durham.

Perhaps best known as the home of Newcastle United and former England manager Sir Bobby Robson, during his formative years as the son of a pitman, Cameron is keen to show there is more to Langley Park than its coal-mining and football heritage.

He said: "When the pit shut in 1975 I am sure in a lot of people's minds it was just written off as 'that knackered old pit village'.

"But that is far from the case. There is lots going on here and that is what we are trying to do.

"We are certainly trying to put a positive gloss on things, but there is plenty to say.

"We have Diggerland and the rest of the Riverside Industrial Estate is full and with a waiting list, while the Front Street seems to be flourishing.

"I run a website design company and you could say this is my donation to the village.

"We started in June and its been running pretty full since October.

"We update it every day with lots of local news and useful information."

The site, linked to a wider web community, features a large section on local mining and family history, and there are plans to carry the full text from each edition of the local parish council publication, Esh Leaves.

Cameron and colleagues are also offering to help local people keen to learn about web design. Further details are available on langleypark.ne