SUPERMARKET chain Tesco is to build a 68,000 sq ft store in Newton Aycliffe as part of a proposed £25m makeover for the town centre.

The long-awaited news comes almost a year to the day since Durham County Council agreed to sell the 16-acre site of the former Avenue Comprehensive School to Manchester developers CTP.

CTP and Tesco's plan includes a supermarket, retail units, a library, a health centre, a youth centre, drop-in centre, town park with two football pitches and a family pub.

A new town square, or circus, at the centre of the development will serve as a focus for the community.

The library, due to be completed in the first phase of development, will be almost twice the size of the current building, and the youth centre will have first-class facilities

Local councillor Tony Moore hailed the announcement as great news for the town.

He said: "I think we've waited long enough for this. The town has expanded. It is getting up to a 30,000 population, and the residents of the town deserve a proper town centre to shop in. The old town centre is full of charity shops and banks. It looks bleak and it needs a boost.

"Years ago we had a first- class shopping centre and it was a pleasure to go to Aycliffe and shop, but it's got so dreary that nobody comes in now.

"This is great news for the townsfolk of Aycliffe who should have these facilities on their doorstep."

CTP director Guy Illingworth said he was delighted that Tesco was involved.

He said: "Their presence at the heart of our development will bring all the benefits that a major large scale retailer can bring to local shoppers and the surrounding community."

Durham County Council leader Don Robson said the presence of Tesco in the development would attract other prestigious retailers to the scheme.

He said: "It's a great Christmas present for the people of Newton Aycliffe."

A detailed planning application is expected early next year.

It is hoped that phase one of the scheme will start in April, with the development completed within 12 months.