DURHAM County Council has also announced new opening hours for its other household waste recycling centres.

Broomsdene, near Consett, and Cragwood, near Evenwood, which councillors voted to close last April, will shut on Friday, May 31.

The tips at Annfield Plain, Potterhouse Lane near Durham, Tudhoe, Seaham, Heighington Lane in Newton Aycliffe, Romanway in Bishop Auckland and Middleton-in-Teesdale will be open seven days a week, from 9am to 6pm from April to September and from 9am to 3.30pm from October to March.

The same hours will apply at Hett Hills near Chester-le-Street and Stainton Grove near Barnard Castle but these facilities will be open on weekends and bank holidays only.

The Stainton Grove HWRC is due to be replaced by a new facility on the same site. The money has been approved and designs are being drawn up.

HWRCs at Thornley, Coxhoe and Horden will be open from Saturday to Thursday, from 10am to 4pm on weekdays and from 9am to 6pm on weekends and bank holidays from April to September and from 10am to 4pm on weekdays and 9am to 3.30pm on weekends and bank holidays from October to March.

All sites will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. All sites will close at noon on Friday, May 31, for the handover.

For more information, call Durham County Council on 03000-261-000 or go online to durham.gov.uk/hwrc