Turning the Tide - which has brought such dramatic changes to the Durham coastline over the past five years - may be due to end soon but one of its founding partners has pledged that the work will go on.

The Countryside Agency, which has been involved in Turning the Tide from its conception, has so far invested £750,000 in the project.

It made a major contribution to the long and expensive process of preparing a successful bid to the Millennium Commission for funding and was instrumental in bringing partners together to ensure that the project got off the ground.

And although Turning the Tide is officially due to end in March next year, Keith Buchanan, regional director of the Countryside Agency, says it is vital that the work continues.

"We're making it our business to explore a way forward," said Mr Buchanan, "And to that end, the Countryside Agency recently chaired a meeting of principal partners to discuss proposals aimed at protecting the important investment which has been made to date.

"There is no doubt that a great deal has already been achieved but further improvements are still needed and we must ensure that we maintain community involvement in the work."

To date, the Countryside Agency's funding has included a major contribution to staffing costs of Turning the Tide together with grants for a wide range of projects including visitor facilities, cycle ways, footpaths, promotion and signage.

Earlier this year, the Countryside Agency contributed £160,000 towards the upgrading of the Haswell to Hart cycleway, which was completed at a total cost of £500,000.

Another recent grant from the Countryside Agency helped to fund a £200,000 project to complete a stretch of the Durham coastal footpath and improve access to Castle Eden Denemouth.

Said Mr Buchanan: "I think everyone concerned with Turning the Tide can be justifiably proud of the immense improvements which have taken place over the past five years."

He added: "The transformation to date has been truly remarkable and the quality of the landscape is now equal to that found at any of the country's Heritage Coasts."