PLANS to develop a visitor centre at a 5,000-acre beauty spot are going on display.

The Forestry Commission is giving visitors to Hamsterley Forest the chance to comment on the proposed scheme during an open weekend.

Concept designs for a visitor centre, forest walks, wildlife viewing areas and horse and bike trails will be on display.

The woodland, near Bishop Auckland, is the largest in County Durham and attracts 180,000 people annually.

Last year saw a major investment in biking facilities, with more than £220,000 spent creating a skills loop and downhill course.

Now a much wider woodland spruce-up is being considered, drawn up by a range of organisations with a stake in Hamsterley's future.

Alex MacLennan, recreation, communities and tourism manager with the Forestry Commission, said: "Our aim is to give local people and visitors an even better forest experience, while providing a powerful stimulus to Teesdale tourism.

"Working with our partners, we are now keen to take these ideas forward. But we need people to make their views known.

"We want to know what kind of facilities they would like to see and what they think of our plans."

Also being exhibited are details of the next phase of mountain bike trail building. Once these are finalised, funding partners will be approached and a planning application lodged.

The plans can be viewed at Hamsterley Forest Visitor Centre between 9am and 5pm, from Friday, May 26, to Monday, May 29.