A VERY public row has flared between three of North Durham's most senior Labour figures after an MP called for the abolition of two local authorities within his constituency.

MP Kevan Jones described Derwentside District Council as being "about as popular as a dose of the plague" - a view strongly opposed by council leader Alex Watson yesterday.

He was joined by leader of Chester-le-Street District Council Malcolm Pratt, who responded to Mr Jones' argument that the council was unpopular and should also be swept aside.

Mr Jones had made his comments at a packed public meeting to discuss the regeneration of Stanley in Stanley Civic Hall on Thursday night.

As Councillor Watson watched on in silence, Mr Jones said that Stanley had been allowed to decline since Derwentside council replaced the old urban district council in the 1970s.

He said Chester-le-Street council, also in his constituency, was unpopular and should also be abolished.

The councils should be replaced by town councils which could provide a more effective voice in a new system of government.

But yesterday, Coun Watson hit back. He said that Derwentside council had been set up as thousands of pit jobs went to the wall and with thousands more coal and steel jobs about to go.

He said: "It is entirely without justification for an MP, namely Kevan Jones, to slam councils without first trying to understand the position and find the facts.

"We will continue to invest in Stanley and across the district in the way we can, given our extremely limited resources."

Councillor Pratt cited a 78 per cent satisfaction rating for Chester-le-Street council in a survey by the Government audit commission.

He said: "The suggestion by our MP that Chester-le-Street is not a popular council is a load of rubbish.

"More people took part in that survey than voted for him in the General Election and we are more popular than Newcastle council where Kevan Jones was deputy leader just one year ago. He should think about that."

Mr Jones said: "It is clear to anyone in both areas that the councils are simply not well regarded."

Coun Watson later said he had not been invited to speak at the meeting which was, in turn, disputed by Kevan Jones.