A beloved County Durham pub has opened its doors once again after closing earlier this year due to mounting costs.

The Duke of Wellington pub, located on Medomsley Road in Consett, has reopened following its closure in February this year.

The venue welcomed back its loyal customers on Saturday (October 14) as it continues to undergo renovations.

Read more: Duke of Wellington pub reopening on Medomsley Road, Consett

The pub had originally closed earlier this year after landlord, Alan Marshall, had been forced to close The Duke's doors after 16 years at the helm - after electricity bills and rising beer costs proved too much to bear.

A spokesperson for the Duke said: "We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came down for our launch on Saturday.

"It was great to meet you all and your support was amazing from start to finish!

"It's great to see a local community come together and support us on our journey, here's to many more great nights at the Duke!

"We will continue updating the bar as the weeks go by.

"We look forward to seeing you all again very soon!"

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They added that painters and decorators will be finishing off the last of their work this week as the pub undergoes its transformation.

Adding to this, the venue has said its brand new CCTV system will be installed in the near future.

The pub said they appreciate all the support shown to them by residents and hope to give them experiences "they will never forget."