WORK has started on the creation of a £1.85m technology park in Sedgefield.

The NetPark project aims to create 1,000 jobs in the first two or three years.

The technology park, on land at the former Winterton Hospital site, is being developed by Durham County Council and Sedgefield Borough Council, in partnership with Durham University, the NHS and One NorthEast.

A report to Sedgefield Borough Council's cabinet tomorrow will outline progress on the plan.

Work on the access road off the A177, demolition work and tree surgery is due to finish in the next few weeks.

Highways, main drainage work and landscaping should start in May.

The report says the cost of the project has risen by £130,000 to £1.85m.

"The borough council has allocated £500,00 to the project in total from its capital programme," the report says.

"In the event extra resources are required, a commitment has been made to meeting these costs by Durham County Council."