Green areas throughout the region are set to benefit from an £80,000 injection of cash.

The money is part of a £1 million fund from Barclays Sitesavers to revitalise derelict areas.

The Sitesavers initiative helps groups of residents carry out work in rundown areas in their town to turn them into play, education and relaxation areas.

In the latest round of donations, 11 projects in the North-East have been given grants totalling £80,000.

In Darlington, grasslands next to the Firthmoor housing estate will be turned into a wildlife site.

The Firthmoor community group has already organised a litter pick, tree planting and a bird box building event to prepare for the new-look site.

In Redcar, work will be carried out to increase public use of the Coatham Marsh Gateway which is the last remaining fresh water wetland on the south side of the River Tees.

New seating, footpaths and planting will be carried out in the area. And in Gateshead the Windy Nook Nature Park will be cleared up and restored and a butterfly garden will be created.

Sally Keeble of Barclays said: "The programmes are specifically targeted at disadvantaged communities and aims to use improvements to the physical environment as a stepping stone to greater community confidence, improved public health and reduced fear of crime."

Two projects in Middlesbrough have received money from the Sitesavers project.

St Martins community garden will be tidied up and the disused allotments at the Beechwood Country Park will be turned into a recreation area.

Meanwhile, a playground will be created at Boldon Colliery in South Tyneside whilst the West Boldon Environmental Education Centre will be extended and an unused car park will be turned into a garden.

In Ferryhill, the Old Pit Lane will be revamped to make it easier and safer for the disabled, elderly and children to get from their housing estates into Ferryhill Station.

Dene Valley Community Park in Bishop Auckland and Hilda Park in Chester-le-Street will also be revamped with new play equipment and replanting.

Finally the Ludworth Teen Zone behind Ludworth village hall will be redesigned by young people to become a recreation area for the whole community.

Over the next 12 months anyone living near one of the projects will be encouraged to volunteer to take part in the work.