DURHAM'S retiring MP has fired another blast at the city's £30m Walkergate development.

Gerry Steinberg, who will stand down at the General Election after 18 years as Labour MP, described the long-delayed regeneration scheme that is now under way as second class.

Developer Amec has started work on the former car park site below Millennium Place and the Gala Theatre. It will build flats, a multi-storey car park, a hotel and restaurant-bars, which should be completed by May next year.

The development proposals - the scheme was first mooted when Labour ran Durham City Council - have changed over the years and a planned multiplex cinema was dropped from the plans some time ago because no operator could be found.

Mr Steinberg said he wished the development every success when it is completed, but said: "After the prestigious cinema was cut from the scheme, I expressed my misgivings to the council and my fears that the project had deteriorated to offering no more than residents and pubs - the last thing the city needs in isolation."

He said that the development would be deserted during most of the day, only seeing action on weekend evenings, and that the council had "failed miserably to develop this fantastic site".

Rejecting his claims, Liberal Democrat council leader Fraser Reynolds said: "I think it is a marvellous scheme and it is bringing much-needed regeneration and jobs to this run-down part of the city. We are trying to attract investment to the city and these comments don't help."