A project to put the heart back into Welland will be unveiled at a meeting next week.

Parish councillors and local residents have been working since December on a scheme that could see 6.7 acres of land around the village transformed for community use.

Sites earmarked for development include land behind and in front of the village hall, along with a playing field opposite, with a youth shelter, picnic benches, barbecue area and wildlife pond among the things proposed.

The project will be paid for by a £70,000 grant from the Countryside Agency's Doorstep Greens initiative, with work expected to begin in the summer.

A community consultation took place at a meeting in December.

Andy Green, from the Countryside Agency, said: "The local residents have really driven this project forward and we're delighted to be involved.

"As part of the Doorstep Greens criteria, Welland Green will be maintained as an open space for 80 years, so it will not only benefit residents and visitors to the village now, but for generations to come."

Residents were asked to put forward their views and Welland Primary School held an art competition to gather ideas for the project.

David Sharp, clerk to Little Malvern and Welland Parish Council, said: "We heard about the scheme and thought that it was a good opportunity to get some funding to do something with the areas that the parish council owns."

Garden design company, Chris Caligari Garden Designs, has now transformed the ideas into a workable scheme.

The outline design for Welland's Doorstep Green can be viewed at the parish hall at 6.30pm on Monday (April 19).