Sedgefield Borough Council has received an offer of funding to employ an officer to promote the health benefits of walking.

The council, representing a partnership of local organisations, made a bid for funding to the Countryside Agency in February.

The agency administers the Walking the Way to Health scheme, which encourages the development of walks programmes, aimed at people whose health could be improved by light exercise.

The partnership included Age Concern, Durham Rural Community Council, the Over the Hedge project, Trimdon 2000, Sedgefield Primary Care Group and the Pioneering Care Centre.

The council's cabinet was told last week that the bid had attracted £42,679 towards the cost of employing an officer for three years.

The primary care group has already offered £20,000, to combine with Sedgefield Borough Council's contribution of £19,804 over three years.

Cash is being sought from other partners to increase the hours to full-time.

This year's costs for the project will be £27,970, made up of £14,226 from the Countryside Agency, £7,500 from the primary care group and the remainder from Sedgefield council.

A total of £82,483 will be committed for the three years.