A LEGAL tussle over £1.1m between two local authorities is to be dragged out even further.

Durham County Council was forced to pay Darlington Borough Council £2.2m earlier this year after losing an arbitration battle which began six years ago.

But the county was also ordered to pay out £1.1m in interest which had built up since 1997.

The battle began after Darlington split from the county council, following a local government shake-up, with the borough demanding its share of a £12m local development fund.

But, despite losing and having to use public money to cover the costs of the case, Durham is appealing against the award of interest.

However, the county council's bid for leave to appeal has again been delayed at the High Court and proceedings may now not start before the end of July.