A GROUP of district councils says a single authority for part of the North-East will be too large.

Six district councils have launched a campaign group after councillors said the proposal for one authority in County Durham was impractical.

The group, made up of Chester-le-Street, Derwentside, Easington, Sedgefield, Teesdale and Wear Valley councils, proposes three unitary authorities.

Derwentside council leader Alex Watson said: "A council is not a local council merely because it provides facilities in the area, it needs to provide understanding of what is important for the area."

The authorities will be restructured if a regional assembly is set up. The councils believe the Government should merge Derwentside and Chester-le-Street councils, Easington and Durham councils, and Sedgefield, Teesdale and Wear Valley councils.

Durham County Council would like to see one authority.

Voters can express their views by writing to the Local Government Review, Trevelyan House, Great Peter Street, London