A country park near Stockton-on-Tees, North East England, is to close for between eight and 10 weeks in order to allow the local authority to carry out a series of improvements.

Work at Wynyard Woodland Park is set to get underway on 5 March, including the resurfacing of 4km (2.5 miles) of footpaths and cycleways, which form part of National Cycle Network Route 1 between Harwich, Essex, and the Shetland Islands. Stockton Borough Council (SBC) is behind the scheme, which will also include the clearing of silt, leaves and plants from blocked drains in a bid to reduce the threat of future flooding.

Mary Womphrey, SBC's cabinet member for arts, culture and leisure, said: "Wynyard Woodland Park is an area of great beauty and a much-loved venue for cyclists and walkers alike. "It is imperative we keep both our parks and countryside parks up to a high standard and this work will be carried out as quickly as possible for the benefit of visitors now and in the future."