WORRIED east Durham shopkeepers have been told their businesses are not under threat.

Traders in the York Road area of Peterlee were concerned after rumours began to circulate that their parade of shops was to be demolished.

But the landlord, Easington District Council, has given an assurance that it intends to improve the shops.

Hairdresser Lisa Pickering, whose salon is in York Road, said that following the rumours she had difficulty renewing her lease which had left her unable to make any business plans for the future.

She said: "The parade has a good mix of shops and most traders are content to stay on provided they know the future of the premises is secure.''

But the fears were viewed with surprise at the council where a spokeswoman said it was the first she had heard of the uncertainty.

She said that in general terms if a tenant was experiencing problems with a lease, it was usually because of other reasons, such as a conflict over repair responsibilities or rent arrears.

She said the council was currently surveying the roof area of the parade where some defects had been uncovered and the authority planned to carry out repairs.

The spokeswoman reassured traders. She said: "We are also looking to improve the shop frontages and the surrounding landscaped area. There are no plans at present to demolish these buildings."