DURHAM County Council is lobbying the European Union to give it more money for development.

County council leader Ken Manton and deputy chief executive Mark Lloyd went to EU headquarters in Brussels yesterday to argue with the commissioner for regional policy the case for £300m-worth of support over the next seven years.

Councillor Manton said: "We are hoping that by speaking directly to the commissioner we can secure about £300m in European investment to the county in a package worth about £600m for County Durham and the Tees Valley in the next funding round.

"That order of funding is vital is we are to work towards closing the North-South divide and will allow unprecedented investment in transport, business, jobs, skills and culture and leisure."