A COUNCIL says it is pleased with the public response to a question time session it held.

About 170 people attended Durham City Council's State of the City event, in the Gala Theatre, to hear questions from the public put to a panel that included council leader Sue Pitts, chief executive Brian Spears, Chief Superintendent Derek Hall and Durham University vice-chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman.

The two-hour session featured a presentation on the council's efforts to consult the public on issues including licensing, the role of parish councils and regeneration.

Councillor Pitts said residents in the city and the 26 surrounding villages had a big role to play in creating a thriving districts.

"They will flourish only because you make it happen. We will help but we have to do it together.

"I'm delighted to see so many people here. It is very encouraging.''

City mayor Mary Hawgood said that the council received a vast number of questions.

A council spokesman said said: "The attendance was about 170 people and what pleased us was we had a spread of people. It was a great response for a public meeting.

"We will look at holding other meetings of this type and we will learn from this and improve on it.''

Roger Cornwell, chairman of the City of Durham Trust, applauded the council for staging the event, but said the format should be altered.

He said: "I would praise the council for holding this sort of meeting and seeking the views of the people they represent.

"But I thought the way they went about it was too formal and it was not conducive to getting feedback from members of the public.

"The council should have been asking the questions and the people in the audience answering them.''