Country park wins further funding

Part of the explosives factory will become a heritage centre

A park in Essex which in the process of being transformed into a showcase eco-park has been boosted by a £1.6m government investment.

It comes on top of the £5.3m being used to improve Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, and turn a former explosives factory into a heritage centre.

The latest funding will be used to create new trails in the park.

An education centre and a home for a database cataloguing plant and animals species in Essex will also be created.

Basildon Councillor Kevin Blake said: "This extra funding is a major boost for our plans to turn the park into a beacon for environmental education, design and technology.

"It will allow us to create new walks for local people and offer education and training resources to help the wider community plan for a greener and more sustainable future."