TWO bus shelters in Ferryhill are to have their fronts removed after protests that they are being used as meeting places by youths.

The shelters at the aged miners' homes in Joseph Patterson Crescent and William Keers Crescent used to be open to the elements.

Ferryhill Town Council put fronts on the shelters after receiving complaints that people were getting cold and wet while waiting for buses.

But that drew complaints that the shelters had become congregating points for local youngsters, making bus passengers wary about entering them.

The council circulated a questionnaire and the overwhelming majority were in favour of putting the shelters back as they were.

Jamie Corrigan, executive officer of Ferryhill Town Council, said: "In line with the council's police of wishing to represent the local people and respond to what they want, members have decided to take the fronts of the bus shelters off.

"We will be organising the contractor to do that within the next couple of weeks."