DURHAM County Council is under fire after details emerged of a dinner for cabinet members at a four-star hotel.

Ten councillors from the authority, including leader Ken Manton, are attending The Marriott Royal County Hotel this Thursday to 'discuss priorities for the coming year'.

The cost of the dinner is being met from Coun Manton's annual hospitality allowance and should come to no more than £25 a head, the authority said.

But the move has been attacked by independent councillor John Shuttleworth, who said the council had already hosted a series of receptions. He said councillors should be content to eat at County Hall, especially when cuts are being made to the council budget.

Earlier this year the county council pleaded for more cash from the Government when it received a disappointing council tax settlement.

It has faced recent criticism after agreeing to spend £170,000 on providing councillors with new computer equipment.

Coun Shuttleworth said: "Just last week we had an evening reception to show appreciation for the members' hard work. Now they are in the Royal County when we have got a canteen here that is perfectly acceptable."

Frazer Davie, a spokesman for Durham County Council, said the authority's chairman and leader were granted an annual allowance for corporate hospitality which totals about £20,000.

"This amounts to a very modest element of the council's gross revenue expenditure," he said.

"It is not unreasonable after a full day's normal business for councillors to continue their discussions in a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere than County Hall would allow."

Providing dinner for just ten people at County Hall could be a more expensive option because of the additional overheads involved, he said.