A PARK-and-ride scheme is being considered to cut traffic congestion on roads leading into Darlington.

Richard Cranmer, divisional traffic manager of the Stagecoach bus company, floated the idea at a meeting of the Town Centre Forum as an alternative to building a new bus station.

Mr Cranmer said: "Preston built a state-of-the-art bus station in the early Seventies, but people didn't use it at nights because they didn't feel secure."

He suggested a park-and-ride scheme on the outskirts of the town, saying the previous town centre bus station had been dingy.

John Buxton, Darlington Borough Council's director of development and environment, said: "We do want to develop park-and-ride if we can find the right location and persuade people to leave their cars on the edge of town.

"It will be something that figures in our car parking strategy."

During previous consultations, only a minority of people were in favour of a new bus station and the majority were happy being dropped off as close as possible to the shops, he said.