NEW bus shelters are to be provided in three villages.

Durham County Council, which is anxious to encourage more people to use public transport, launched a programme for improving shelters across the county two years ago through its Rural Bus Challenge scheme.

The latest communities to benefit are Tantobie and Tanfield, in Derwentside, and Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street. The council has already funded one replacement bus shelter in Sacriston, with the parish council taking on the ownership and maintenance.

Environment and technical services director Chris Tunstall told the committee that apart from the new one, all the shelters in Sacriston are "either brick-built or metal and in poor repair" and that the parish council hoped they could all be replaced.

"Both the parish and district council are providing funds for some of the shelters," he said.

"Adshel - the firm that makes shelters - has agreed to replace some and the county council is being asked to provide funds for the two remaining shelters."

Mr Tunstall said: "In Tantobie and Tanfield, where there is no parish council, the Six Villages Community Partnership has identified, through a village appraisal, the need for three new or replacement bus shelters.

"Derwentside District Council is prepared to take on the maintenance of these new bus shelters but funds are sought from the county council to provide these shelters."

The committee agreed to give up to £5,000 per shelter.