DISCUSSIONS are ongoing about how £3.4m will be spent to restore a Darlington park to its former glory.

Visitors to the Victorian South Park were delighted when it was awarded a heritage lottery grant after being neglected for years.

But work has not yet started on the improvement plans which include restoring the bandstand, installing a terracotta fountain and improving the park's centrepiece lake.

A sensory garden is also planned so people with disabilities can enjoy the area.

Other ideas include a ball park and skateboard area and the whole park will be connected to the council's CCTV system.

But last Tuesday a council spokeswoman confirmed no date had been set for work to start on the park.

She said: "Discussions are still ongoing. A lot of things have to be decided before work can start.

"The money is still there and work will start as soon as final discussions with contractors are completed.

"Of course winter is also coming which may be a factor in when work can start."