Work has begun on a £100,000 project to re- juvenate Welland.

The Doorstep Green initiative began with the planting of about £500 of native trees and shrubs.

Around 50 local people turned up last Sunday to lend a helping hand.

"The turnout was fantastic," said Coun Don Atkinson, a member of Welland Parish Council's Doorstep Green committee.

"We had so many volunteers that we'd planted all the trees and shrubs in just a couple of hours."

The Doorstep Green project was given the go-ahead this week by the Countryside Agency, which will give £70,000 toward it.

The council must find the rest, although some of this will be through the provision of volunteer labour.

Work will begin in the next two months creating a hard-surface play area with goalposts and basketball nets on Spittlefields and improving the village war memorial.

This will be followed by levelling the playing field, building a youth shelter, putting in seating, fences and paths and planting more trees.

The Doorstep Green initiative caused controversy when it was first announced last year. However, following a series of public meetings, villagers voted in favour of the project last autumn.