A COUNCIL says its latest travel survey could be the most detailed undertaken in the country.

Darlington Borough Council questioned more than 4,000 people about their travel habits last year.

The findings are to be used as part of a project to encourage greener modes of transport in the town.

In a report to Darlington Transport Forum tonight, councillors will hear that between September and December last year, more than 4,250 residents took part in perhaps the most detailed travel survey in the UK.

Officers report: "A random selection of residents from across the (borough's) 20 urban wards were asked to complete a travel diary for a particular day of the week.

"This has provided a detailed picture of current travel behaviour, attitudes to travel and to transport planning and the potential for changing travel behaviour."

The study found that people took an average 57 minutes to make an average of three trips a day.

One in four trips was on foot, two-thirds by car, 12 per cent by bus and one per cent by bicycle.

Darlington secured £3.24m of Government cash to tackle traffic congestion by promoting walking, cycling and public transport after being chosen as a Town on the Move.