A £480,000 repaving project that is smartening up the centre of Crook is on course to be finished by the end of the month.

Durham County Council started work in January to lay York stone paving and install lighting in front of the Civic Centre.

The project is part of an Urban and Rural Renaissance initiative and follows improvements made in other parts of the town.

Traffic-calming measures are being installed in Hope Street which will be closed this Sunday and Sunday, March 26.

The green is remaining fenced off for another month to allow it to be prepared for landscaping.

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, cabinet member for the environment, thanked people for their patience.

He added: "The green will remain fenced from April 1 to May 1 to allow landscaping contractors to relay it, plant new trees and set out the flower beds for the summer.

"By June, the full impact of the enhancement should be able to be seen and more than compensate for any short- term disruption.