ONE of Stockton's best known landmarks is to be given a £250,000 revamp.

Work will be carried out on Holy Trinity Church to improve the structure and develop landscaping around the feature.

The first phase of works includes boundary improvements, entrance features, seating, a heritage trail and interpretation panels and preparation works for illumination of the ruin.

Work is scheduled to start this month and be completed by the end of March.

The area is likely to be known as Trinity Green, to recognise it as a new attraction for the borough.

Coun Bob Cook, Stockton Council cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: "Holy Trinity Church is one of the borough's most well-known features, and the improvement works will make it a real focal point.

"This first phase of works will see new railings around the boundary, along with landscaping and interpretation panels to tell people about the history of the site."

Funding has been secured from the European Regional Development Fund, Cleaner Safer Greener, Stockton Council, Neighbourhood Pathfinder and developer contribution.

Tim Gibson, Stockton Council development manager, regeneration, said: "Because the church is a listed building, we have to have approval from English Heritage before we can do any structural work.

"We have another £350,000 of funding in place, and we are in discussion with English Heritage to see what work we can do.

"If we receive approval, the work could go ahead later this year."

Holy Trinity opened in 1838 and featured a highly ornamental exterior, mainly in a decorated Gothic style.

Part of the upper spire was destroyed by gales in 1852 and over the years the building gradually fell into disrepair. The final nail in the church's coffin came in 1991 when an arson attack by vandals left it gutted.