COUNCILLORS in a County Durham market town are urging residents, who are angry at a proposal to reduce opening hours at the local police station, to contact them.

Barnard Castle police station is one of several police stations in the county to have its front counter hours cut.

The counter will be shut between 8pm and 8am on weekdays and shut all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Police said that reducing front counter hours at several police stations would mean more police patrolling the streets instead of sitting behind a desk.

It would also save the force £100,000, which would be enough to pay for another five officers.

Councillor Newton Wood, chairman of Teesdale District Council's overview and scrutiny committee, is asking people to contact him with their concerns.

If there is enough opposition, he said, he would make it an item for the overview and scrutiny committee to challenge and organise a public meeting with senior police officers. Coun Wood said: "We're quite concerned about this. It would mean people wouldn't be able to bring in lost property after these hours.

"Also, people who've had driving offences, wouldn't be able to bring in driving documents so this would already restrict access to people who are working.

"There's also the Shopwatch radio scheme here in Barnard Castle, where the shops can radio round if there's any shoplifters.

"Many of the front counter staff are civilian anyhow so you wouldn't be freeing up any police officers."

Councillor Peter Stubbs, a founder member of Teesdale Farmwatch, said: "There are already problems with calling the police at Bishop Auckland.

"At the present moment, Teesdale is one of the safest places to live.

"This is going to change all that and we'll be back to where we were years ago - it's unacceptable."

Residents concerned about the scheme can call Coun Wood on (01833) 690100.