A scheme designed to ease traffic congestion in a North-East city is likely to take a step forward this week.

Durham county councillors will be recommended on Thursday to grant planning permission for a park-and-ride complex at Belmont, on the outskirts of Durham City.

The scheme was drawn up by county council officials, who hope that commuters will park at the site, near the A1(M) interchange, and take an express bus into the city centre.

Parking has become an issue in the city because of the loss of some key car parks to development.

The county council has also introduced on-street parking charges in and around the centre, and plans to introduce a toll charge for using Saddler Street.

The Belmont site is the first of three park-and-ride facilities planned for the city. It will have spaces for 400 cars and there will be a waiting building, toilets and covered bus stops.

"Dedicated express buses would depart at frequent intervals to the city centre," head of planning John Suckling said in a report to the planning committee.

"It is envisaged that three buses would operate a ten-minute turnaround journey to and from the city.

"It is intended to operate the service 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, with additional services being provided on busy Sundays and Bank Holidays as required."

Funding for the project is being sought from the Government.

If the nearby mothballed Leamside railway line is ever revived a station would be built next to the site.