THE North-East's newest adventure park looks certain to be allowed to stay.

Diggerland, the park where children and their parents can use JCBs, has applied for its temporary planning permission to be made permanent.

Derwentside District Council seems certain to agree, after learning that the attraction has brought 35,000 visitors to Langley Park since it opened a year ago.

If councillors allow the adventure park full-time planning permission at their meeting at Consett Civic Centre on Thursday, Diggerland will reopen on March 2.

A spokesman for Diggerland said yesterday: "We are very hopeful that we will be allowed to remain at the centre.

"We have brought a lot of people into the district from elsewhere. There have been people coming from as far as Glasgow and Yorkshire."

In a report to the council, planning officer Fiona Clarke recommends Diggerland be given the go-ahead.

She says: "The council has not received any complaints about noise and no complaints have been received about the renewal application.

"The site has become an established and well-used tourist facility, which draws visitors into the district."