Looking back: Kings Head Hotel ravaged by fire in 2008

A LANDMARK hotel ravaged by fire in 2008 was branded an eyesore damaging town centre trade.

In August 2009, Darlington's Conservative and Lib Dem leaders were concerned the King's Hotel, which was still covered in scaffolding a year after the blaze, was damaging the economy and was an extra burden for traders during the recession.

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They were concerned that a planning application for renovations had not yet been submitted, and called for the company that owned the building to speed up work.

But Moorfield Real Estate Fund, which owned the hotel building as well as the Cornmill Shopping Centre, defended the progress of the work and said trade was unaffected.

Darlington Borough Council also denied the scaffolding was detrimental to business.

However, Darlington Tory leader Heather Scott and Lib Dem leader Martin Swainston disagreed.

Councillor Scott said: "I think it is having a very detrimental effect on businesses, particularly the ones which have opened again underneath the hotel. I do not think people know they are fully open.

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"It also has an effect on the town centre as a whole. It is a landmark hotel, but it looks like an eyesore."

Young people were helping to preserve East Durham's past by creating a written record of residents' memories in 2009.

The book of stories and anecdotes compiled by members of the area's youth forum was set to be handed over to Beamish Museum when it was completed.

Museum staff planned to add the publication to their research library to make it available for visitors.

Michelle Morton, Durham County Council youth forum co-ordinator, said: "The young people became interested in the history of the local area after working on a smaller research project focusing on Easington Colliery."

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They put the material together at Easington Colliery Welfare Hall with the help of local author and historian Mary Bell.

Nine town criers, including Darlington town crier Peter Stremmer, brought a splash of colour to Darlington for its first crier competition in August 2009.

The two-day contest included a parade around the town centre.

Best home cry was awarded to Chester-le-Street's Marjorie Dodds.