The Headland is the oldest part of Hartlepool

Three of the squares on The Headland in Hartlepool are to be transformed, thanks to a �250,000 grant from the North Hartlepool Partnership.

The work, in Gibb, Regent, and Beaconsfield Squares is being carried out in consultation with local residents, and will provide new railings, walls and flower-beds, along with specially commissioned artwork.

Residents living around each of the squares formed special groups to work closely with landscape architects and artists to design and plan the work.

North Hartlepool Partnership is using money from the government's Single Regeneration Budget.

Additional funding has come from English Heritage, which has given �43,000 towards the Regent Square improvements.

'New life'

Work is already underway in Gibb Square, where there will be new walls and railings around the square, and flower beds and shrubs planted in the middle.

There will also be several new car parking spaces created off Cleveland Street, to help ease parking congestion.

Work on the other two squares will start in the next few weeks, and all three squares are expected to be finished at the end of September.

Graeme Martindale, chair of the Friends of Gibb Square, said: "We've worked closely with the architects to develop improvements which we feel will breathe new life into the square and give it a smart, new appearance."