A STEEL firm has escaped enforcement action after agreeing to restore a wildlife haven.

Ward Brothers levelled 7.3 acres at Cleveland Street, Darlington, which local authority officers said rid the area of its wildlife.

The firm had won the right to use the meadow for scrap metal storage after a planning appeal in March.

In making his decision, the planning inspector placed a number of conditions to protect wildlife on the land, in the Albert Hill area of town.

After the company's failure to comply with these conditions, council officers threatened enforcement action, unless the land was restored.

An agent for Ward Brothers said that work had now started to reinstate wildlife.

A council spokesman said: "Trees are due to be planted next month."

He said they were monitoring the situation