FRUSTRATED residents are still waiting for a tidy village trophy to be erected, three months after it was awarded.

Aycliffe Village won The Northern Echo trophy for small general villages in last year's County Durham Tidy Village Competition.

A site on the A167, near the entrance to the village, has been earmarked for the trophy but Great Aycliffe Town Council is still negotiating with other agencies.

Local councillor Bill Blenkinsopp said: "Sedgefield village have their trophy up, Heighington have their trophy up, but it seems as if we are no further forward. The village hall committee is asking where the trophy is. If it is not resolved quickly, it will be a waste of time putting it up because we only have it for 12 months."

Town council clerk Michael Rice said the Halcrow Group, which has responsibility for verges, wanted certain conditions to be met before the sign was put up.

He said: "There is an indemnity against any claims that arise while the sign is being erected and should anybody drive into it, and we are having a look at the implications of that with our insurers."

Other issues include getting confirmation that it will not block the sightline for motorists approaching the junction and getting a risk assessment carried out.

Competition secretary Margaret Thornhill said she could not understand the delay. She said a sign had already been installed on the A167 near Chester-le-Street.

"I can't understand why that sign is up, but Aycliffe have had trouble," she said.

Great Aycliffe Town Council will discuss the issue tonight