PEOPLE in County Durham are backing the survival of the county council, a poll by Mori has revealed.

Durham County Council is championing the creation of one county-wide unitary super council, providing all services, if the North-East votes for a regional assembly.

And, according to the Mori survey for the boundary committee of the council, 36 per cent of people also favour the option.

Supporters of the idea believe a single, county-wide council will be more efficient, offer better value for money and be strong, according to the survey.

Splitting the county into three unitary councils was favoured by 27 per cent of respondents, who wanted councils to cover smaller areas.

But those who least liked the idea said it would be a less efficient option, offer less value for money, would not improve council services and would create weak councils.

The option of creating two councils by combining Chester-le-Street, Derwentside, Durham City and Easington in the north and Sedgefield, Teesdale and Wear Valley in the south was supported by 18 per cent.

Supporters believe it will be a more efficient option or provide better value for money, but 25 per cent of respondents consider it the worst of all the options

Durham County Council's Labour leader, Councillor Ken Manton said the survey results were very reassuring.

He said: "They show that people do not want the county split into two or three areas.

"They confirm that the driving force behind people's choice is the desire for quality services and that is where our evidence suggests a new, unitary, county-wide council will score very strongly."

However, he said the survey also showed people's alarming lack of knowledge about the local government shake-up and councils in general.

Three in five of the people questioned knew little or nothing about councils and the services they provide, and only one in ten knew more than a little about the current local government review.

More than half of those questioned had not even heard of it.

Opponents of the county-wide option said it would be too remote, while the county's district councils are backing plans for three unitary authorities to be created by mergers.

People are likely to vote on the issue as part of the regional assembly referendum to be held in the autumn.