East Belfast is celebrating this morning as a local regeneration project has been awarded �23.5m of lottery funding.

The Connswater Community Greenway has made the final cut for the lottery's Living Landmarks Fund for its project to create a park along the course of the Connswater river.

-- Advertisement --

Today's announcement gives the green light to the creation of a parkway following the course of the river and other waterways through east Belfast, connecting green spaces along the way.

The project team say it will benefit the 40,835 people living in the area and involve transforming the river, which is currently in a neglected and dirty condition.

More than 40 bridges and 19kms of cycle and walkways are to be constructed.

(BMcC)