WASTEland used by fly tippers is to be turned into a wild flower habitat for Teesside schools after a surprise discovery.

The land behind homes in West View Road, Hartlepool, was originally used for residents' garages, but had been turned into a rubbish dump by fly tippers.

Residents complained about the look of the area, and the state of the rutted track across the site, which they use to drive to the back of their homes.

Following the complaints, a Hartlepool Borough Council ecological advisor visited the site - and discovered that beneath the rubbish there was much of scientific interest.

He found that the alkaline grassland of the area was unusual, and supported a number of rare plant species.

The council is proposing to relay the track to make it easier for people to use, and to fit bollards, which could only be accessed by residents.

Director of neighbourhood services Bernard Williams said: "A team would carry out rubbish clearance, remove the old garage bases and complete works to enable the entire site to be managed as a natural asset, rich in wild flowers and species particular to the alkaline grassland habitat.

"The site would then have potential interest to local schools as a natural habitat area."

The team of workers will come from the town's Intermediate Labour Market group.

This group is made up of people from Hartlepool's Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) areas who are unemployed, and aims to give them training while they work on environmental projects in the town.

The group is funded by money from Europe as well as the SRB cash, but Hartlepool council will give £2,000 to cover the cost of the bollards and the materials for the track.

The council is expected to approve the transformation of the wasteland at a meeting today.

Other work, including new security measures at flats in Durham Street, Hartlepool, and traffic calming measures in the Morison Gardens area are also likely to be approved at the meeting of the North Neighbourhood forum