Durham County Council could disappear under proposals for local government.

The Boundary Committee this week published its three preferred options for a system of unitary authorities.

The current two-tier system will go if the North-East votes for a regional assembly.

Option one, preferred by Durham County Council, is for a single county-wide authority, based on the current county boundary. The committee said this would have sufficient capacity to provide the full range of local services and would reflect residents' attachment to County Durham.

Option two, put forward by the committee itself, is for two authorities. There would be a North and East Durham authority, based on Chester-le-Street, Derwentside, Durham City and Easington districts, and South Durham based on Sedgefield, Teesdale and Wear Valley.

Option three, favoured by five of the seven existing districts, which say one authority would be too unwieldy, is to have three unitary authorities.

East Durham would comprise Durham City and Easington districts, North Durham would include Chester-le-Street and Derwentside, and South Durham would be a merger of Sedgefield, Teesdale and Wear Valley.

Final recommendations will be sent to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. Darlington borough is unaffected.