A MEETING will be held next week over the closure of a council tip.

The Browns Houses civic amenity site, in Frosterley, was closed by Durham County Council yesterday leaving residents facing an eight mile trip to the nearest tip at Willington.

Stanhope and Wolsingham parish councils will meet on Monday to investigate alternative sites for their rubbish.

Stanhope Parish Council chairman Harry Irwin said: "Where are we going to put our refuse now?

"There will be a lot more fly tipping because of the closure of the site and people won't want to travel all the way to Willington to get rid of their rubbish.

"Durham County Council have had lots and lots of time to sort this out."

Browns Houses civic amenity site has been open to the public for more than 30 years.

Mr Irwin said residents had been complaining for the past few months because of refuse that had blown across the fields.

He said: "The people who live near the site will be pleased because they have had to put up with all the rubbish. But we do need an alternative."

A spokesman for Durham County Council said: "We are quite happy to look closely into alternative sites that anyone may suggest."