Popular demand for new allotments in Middlesbrough

Flowers and vegetables are being grown on the plots

A new allotment site has opened on Teesside to try to deal with what the council has described as a "strong demand".

The 28 plots have been developed on a former green field site in Coulby Newham with £26,000 of funding from the Middlesbrough Healthy Town initiative.

They have already all been let out, and there continues to be a waiting list for other sites.

The funding has helped create 90 plots in Hemlington by tidying up old ones.

Simon Blenkinsop, parks support manager, said: "People are rolling their sleeves up and really getting involved in growing their own, which is great to see.

"It is a lot of fun, really good exercise and children get a lot of fresh air while doing it.

"There is already a waiting list for the site which shows the demand for allotments in Middlesbrough continues to be really strong."