COUNCILS in the North-East and North Yorkshire spent more than £500,000 hosting the Olympic Torch for last years games, according to new figures.

The biggest spending authority in the region was Durham County Council at £219,652, compared to the lowest spending of Stockton Borough Council at £3,136.26.

Nationally, the sum was more than £6m for security, road closures and evening celebrations.

In County Durham it was estimated that a third of the county's population - 175,000 people - took to the streets to watch the Olympic flame in June last year.

Festivities included a celebration event on the Racecourse in Durham City, while torchbearers included England and Durham cricketer Paul Collingwood.

The council cited the fact that it hosted the torch for the weekend as one of the reasons for the six-digit expenditure.

Terry Collins, corporate director for neighbourhood services, added: "Ours is a vast county and to fulfill Locog's desire that every resident would be within a short drive of the torch, the money spent was necessary to ensure that everyone in County Durham could share in this once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Newcastle City Council spent £127,500, generating £7m in added revenue.

A council spokesman, who said celebrations included a zipwire stunt involving celebrity adventurer Bear Grylls, said: "As the region's capital, we attracted more than 35,000 visitors to join in the evenings festivities and footfall in the city centre rose by 20 per cent for the duration of the Games.

"The excitement generated that day lives on and the city is now preparing to host the Rugby World Cup in October 2015."

The figures, published to coincide with the anniversary of the torch relay, were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

Flick Rea, chairman of the Local Government Association's culture, tourism and sport board, said councils wanted to make one off opportunity memorable.

She said: "The torch relay was a huge logistical challenge.

"Without council efforts in managing thousands of road closures, recruiting a small army of volunteer marshals, setting up safety barriers and managing crowds, cleaning up after the cavalcade and handling a vast range of other issues, it simply wouldn't have happened."

Council spending: Darlington £4,800; Durham £219,652; Gateshead £21,227.64; Hartlepool £14,848.16; Middlesbrough £25,867; Newcastle £127,500; North Yorkshire N/A; Redcar and Cleveland £26,886.23; South Tyneside £11,513.29; Stockton £3,136.26; Sunderland £11,764; York £67,934