A NORTH-EAST MP has accused one of the region's universities of threatening the city with a housing crisis.

Gerry Steinberg launched his attack after Durham University revealed it had unexpectedly enrolled an additional 200 students.

The Durham City MP has predicted this will force local people out of the already overpriced community.

Mr Steinberg accused the university of failing to properly plan for its increasing student population

University spokeswoman Dionne Hamil said this year's improved A-level results had led to more admissions than expected.

She denied complacency on the part of the university, and said talks were already being held with developers, planners and local authorities aimed at providing an additional 1,000 student residential places over the next few years.

She also reminded the community of the university's economic impact, and said its 11,000 students and 3,000 staff spent about £60m locally on goods and services.

Mr Steinberg said: "I fully recognise the benefits the university and its students bring to the city. However, there is no evidence that the impact on local people is sufficiently considered.

"Locals are being forced out of the housing market, with some areas now almost entirely student-dominated."

He said that over the past five years, there had been a 40 per cent rise in properties occupied by students.

He said this meant that the only people who benefited were landlords and agents, who were profiting at the expense of local people and students.

He said: "I am told that some landlords in the city own 40, 50 and 60 student-let properties. This is like owning an entire village in some areas."

He said the wholesale buying of properties for rent to students was: "Destroying neighbourhoods, eroding community spirit and threatening the very fabric and uniqueness of the city."

He said he has been urging the university for a number of years to provide more accommodation, and would be re-iterating the point at a meeting with university leaders on Friday.

Ms Hamil said that the university was wanting to construct a new college, provide more accommodation at Ustinov College and was looking to expand Parsons Field and the former Dryburn Hospital site.