SHOPPERS have been given an early Christmas present in a city centre blighted by roadworks in recent months.

Work on pavements and roads in the heart of Durham have been suspended until the New Year.

And, as a bonus, Durham County Council has revealed plans for a major refurbishment of pedestrianised areas of the city from next year.

Both the council and Northumbrian Water have been busy carrying out work which has seen a number of road and paved areas dug up during large parts of this year.

The water company has almost completed a mains renewal scheme in the city, at a cost of £1.8m.

Work yet to be completed has now been suspended for the Christmas period, restarting early in January.

The county council recently carried out repairs to paving in some of the streets of the medieval peninsula, completed in time for the Christmas rush.

Water and gas utilities will be back, however, early in the New Year for further work in Saddler Street, which will lead to the road being closed from January 6 to 14.

Arrangements are being made for limited vehicle access to the peninsula via the rarely-used Prebends Bridge, at the opposite end of the Bailey area.

The council also begins work on a £350,000 scheme in North Road, involving renewal of the road and footpaths, in January.

Chris Tunstall, the council's environment and technical services director, said: "Looking further into the future, the council is planning a major renewal scheme to the pedestrianised areas of the Market Place and Silver Street, together with Elvet and Framwellgate bridges.

"We will be using alternative paving materials that are friendlier for pedestrians and the disabled, but still retain the character of Durham's historic streets."

A strategy is being produced to guide the design of the renewal scheme, the first revamp since Silver Street and the Market Place were pedestrianised 25 years ago.