CHANGES to bus services in east Durham will come into effect on Sunday.

The changes will mean the return of links that had previously been withdrawn.

These include the Northlea and Denehouse Road areas of Seaham, regaining links to Sunderland via the coast route, as well as improvements to services in York Road, Peterlee.

In Wingate buses will now run down Wellfield Road to Peterlee. In Shotton Colliery, services will also run through Fleming Field and Station Road to Peterlee.

The changes are being introduced by Durham County Council, working with Go North East and Arriva, following a public consultation earlier this year.

Coun Bob Young, cabinet member for environment and leisure, said: "We're spending around £1 million on public transport in East Durham to ensure people have a high quality and reliable service.

"We have listened to what people told us during the consultation and the changes being introduced from Sunday are in response to what people said.

"We are continuing to work with local residents on further improvements for later in the year."

He added: "We know that good public transport links are vital to communities and these service improvements are part of our commitment to ensuring people in County Durham have access to a good public transport network.

"We are also looking forward to working with our new Stakeholder Panel, which will provide a forum for feedback from local passengers and other members of the community".

Details of the changes to bus services in East Durham can be found by visiting the Durham County Council's website www.durham.gov.uk