THE wishes of generations of people have come true as part of the £1.4m redevelopment of a park.

Builders restoring Blackhill Park, in Consett, County Durham, have repaired the park's famous wishing stone, which has been broken in two for years.

Now the council restorers, who received £943,000 from the National Lottery, are planning to recreate the original opening ceremony of the park, complete with Victorian costumes, when the work is completed in July.

To celebrate the restoration of the wishing stone, children from Benfieldside Primary School's nursery unit took a trip to the park to wish a happy fourth birthday to Josh McKinney.

Organiser Sue Fox said the event was made even more special when the children were joined by 76-year-old Leslie Lowther out walking his dog.

"It was lovely," she said. "Mr Lowther told the children about the First World War tank which he remembered being in the park in 1935, the wishing stone, the fountain, the ornate bandstand and the tennis courts."

The restoration team is thinning the park's trees, clearing derelict areas and relaying stone blocks.