A £1m cash windfall will create 60 new jobs and kick start four projects in County Durham.

The Durham Dales Centre, at Stanhope, and South Church Enterprise Park, near Bishop Auckland, will benefit from the money from regional development agency One North-East.

Bracken Hill in Peterlee and NetPark (North-East Technology Park) in Sedgefield will also receive a share.

The projects were awarded the cash because Durham Economic Partnership, the organisation responsible for delivering major elements of the Regional Economic Strategy in County Durham, identified all four as being areas of need.

Money given to the Durham Dales Centre will see the facility extended to provide additional business space to provide between five and seven extra units.

The extension will generate employment opportunities for new and existing small to medium enterprises and will contribute to the economic recovery and the future of the Durham Dales.

This will be done through the promotion of tourism, arts and crafts and voluntary organisations and the assessment of training needs in the area. It will also provide essential office services and support to local businesses and organisations.

Additional managed workspace in the form of incubator units will be built at South Church Enterprise Park.

The units will cater for both new businesses and small to medium-sized enterprises looking to expand their operations.

It is hoped the units will provide flexible, high specification accommodation for ICT users and establish a supportive environment for businesses.

Money given to Bracken Hill will introduce childcare for employees of the companies in the neighbouring industrial estates as well as residents in East Durham along with an associated training facility.

Isolated communities and businesses will be able to gain access to a wide range of economic, social and other opportunities through money spent in Sedgefield.