SCHEMES to improve employment opportunities for jobless residents in deprived areas of Sedgefield borough have been backed by £1.2m of European money.

The West Ward of Newton Aycliffe, the Sunnydale and Thickley Wards of Shildon and the coalfield communities of Cornforth, Ferryhill Station and the Trimdons, are to benefit from the regeneration cash.

Residents were involved in a community economic appraisal to identify issues to help people back into work.

Priorities have been identified in areas including attention to skills training and the use of IT, actions that would help people return to work or training, childcare and transport.

The need to support the employment of local co-ordinators to help communities sustain existing projects and develop further initiatives around training and employment has been highlighted.

Other issues were environmental improvement and training, school and youth advice and guidance and outreach job club schemes.

The borough's regeneration section is compiling project ideas to go to community representatives for approval next month.

Coun Bill Waters, lead member for regeneration, said: "The interest and commitment of residents has been first rate and their comments and enthusiasm have been informative and constructive.

"People do care about their communities and are keen to see individuals involved in employment and training which will have an impact within their areas."

The National Railway Museum at Shildon and the NetPark development in Sedgefield were identified as pro- jects that could link to training and employment issues.

Community projects such as the Shildon Community Arcade and the development of the South West Durham Credit Union Study Group, could also be used in this way.