Restrictions are to be introduced at the gateway to a world heritage site, despite traders' objections.

Following consultations with residents and businesses, Durham County Council has announced plans to introduce a £2 access charge in Saddler Street, which runs from Durham market place to the cathedral and castle.

The scheme, which could be in operation by summer, will make the route one of the country's first toll roads.

Motorists will be charged between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and a permit scheme will allow residents, university, cathedral and Durham Choristers' School staff free access.

But councillors feared the toll, which is designed to alleviate congestion, could have the opposite effect at either side of its allotted period.

To help prevent this, revised loading restrictions have been proposed for the area.

Councillors agreed to implement them as an experiment at a meeting of the highways committee last week.

The original restrictions prevented loading and unloading in Saddler Street between 10am and 11pm, Monday to Saturday, and all day Sunday.

These times have been reduced to 8am and 10am and from 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, with Sunday loading banned from 8am to 1pm.

Disabled parking bays will also be removed from the market place.

Seven traders have written letters of objection to the amended restrictions, claiming they are unworkable.