AN MP last night called for the abolition of a council he dubbed "about as popular as a dose of the plague" at a packed public meeting.

North Durham Labour MP Kevan Jones, who was referring to Derwentside District Council, told more than 200 people in Stanley that the town had deteriorated since the abolition of the old Urban District Council in the 1970s.

He said that both Derwentside and Chester-le-Street district councils should be swept away and that towns such as Stanley, Consett and Chester-le-Street should have their own local forums in a system of local government under a regional assembly.

Derwentside council leader Alex Watson looked on in silence as cheers and a round of applause greeted the MP's comments.

The Question Time-style meeting had been called by Mr Jones to discuss the regeneration of Stanley.

Mr Jones said: "After being your MP for more than a year I can say that Derwentside council is about as popular as a dose of the plague and the council ignores that opinion at its peril.

"I strongly support the Government's White Paper, which argues that the two tier system of district and county councils in places like Durham should be abolished.

"All that happens is the county council and the local council blames each other for everything.

"I think Derwentside District Council and Chester-le-Street District Council should be abolished, but at a local level a voice should be given in forums or a town council."

Some people in Stanley have argued the town has lost out to Consett, where Derwentside District Council has had its headquarters, in the past 30 years.

The assertion has been denied on previous occasions by council leaders who can point to £1m of taxpayers' money going to the £4.5m new swimming pool in Stanley.

Last night's meeting was chaired by Dr Fred Robinson, a research lecturer at Durham University.

He said: "I am a disinterested party except for one thing, I think the bus station is an absolute disgrace."