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

Visitors to the South Park were delighted when it was awarded a heritage lottery grant after it had been 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 would be connected to the council's camera security system.

Yesterday, 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."