TREES sculpted from metal are to ring the village green of a former pit village as the first step in its revitalisation.

The Normandy poplars, by blacksmith and artist Graham Hopper, of Hunwick, will be installed at Ushaw Moor.

The 20ft sculptures, commissioned by Durham City Council, will form a screen around the village green, which is to be extended, closing the access to Whitehouse Lane.

Tarmac will be removed and grassed over, trees and shrubs planted, a footpath created and railings replaced with bollards.

The improvements, by Durham County Council's Service Direct construction arm, is part of the city council's Lower Deerness Valley regeneration scheme.

The £35,000 project is funded by both councils, the Single Regeneration Budget and County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT). CDENT is giving £25,000 and its chairman John Wearmouth said the scheme would "give the village a major facelift and help revive confidence and improve public perceptions of the area''.

County council environment director Chris Tunstall said: "We put telephone and electricity cables underground in January and followed this in April by laying attractive paving flags on part of the west side of Whitehouse Lane.

"This latest work to extend the village green by closing the access to Whitehouse Lane, will not only enhance the centre of the village but greatly improve safety at that junction.

"We will have to wait until the plant-ing season in November to put in the trees but, by early summer next year, the revitalised village green should be looking at its best."