PLANS for a "super surgery", costing £1m, have taken a step forward.

Health officials have exchanged contracts for a primary care centre in King Street, Darlington, which is scheduled to open next year and house 150 clinical and administrative staff.

The walk-in clinic is expected to get through 1,200 minor surgery procedures a year.

Health consultant Hannah Henderson told the Darlington Primary Care Trust board that discussions had taken place with staff and community groups over what should be provided.

"People are very interested in it and I have received a lot of comments about what they would like to see there," she said.

Services that might be provided include complementary health care, including homeopathy and acupuncture, interpreters for the ethnic community and self-help leaflets.