PROPOSALS to radically alter the political make-up of several key North-East constituencies have been rejected by a Government body.

The Boundary Commission for England visited Darlington in January to hear views on its recommendations to change the political boundaries of County Durham.

Although the commission had proposed only minor alterations to the boundaries, the Conservative group tabled wide-reaching alternatives, including making the parliamentary boundaries the same as the borough boundaries - meaning the whole of Darlington would have the same MP.

They wanted the rural areas of Heighington, Coniscliffe, Hurworth, Middleton St George, Sadberge and Whessoe to become part of Alan Milburn's Darlington constituency.

But in its final report, the commission rejected the alternative suggestions, deciding instead to stick with its original proposals that would affect only 1,446 electors between the seven seats in County Durham.

The decision means Faverdale and Harrowgate Hill will be moved from Tony Blair's Sedgefield seat to Mr Milburn's Darlington seat.

Explaining its decision to make only minor changes to the boundaries, a commission spokesman said: "Although the assistant commissioner accepted that while many of the residents of the four rural wards, which the commission proposed should remain in Sedgefield, would prefer to be in Darlington constituency, he considered that if they were transferred, some minor local links would be broken with the rest of Sedgefield, such as those with Newton Aycliffe.

"He considered that, on balance, the present constituency arrangements of the borough of Darlington should not be changed, except for the new wards of Faverdale and Harrowgate Hill."

Leader of the Conservatives in Darlington, Tony Richmond who had spoken at the review in January, said: "All of the people who live in the borough should be able to vote for one MP."