Darlington Borough Council has said it could close the town's art gallery.

The gallery, which forms part of the central library in Crown Street, is under threat as part of a review of operations.

Council officials say that Government legislation setting out new standards for libraries and museums might mean the art gallery could be forced to close.

But they have stressed that alternative provision for the gallery, which houses regular exhibitions from local artists, would be found.

That could be at the Arts Centre in Vane Terrace, or an alternative location.

The new legislation affects issues including disabled access and the amount of space that must be provided, both of which are thought to be inadequate at the Crown Street site.

A council spokeswoman confirmed it was no longer taking bookings for the art gallery beyond next year because its future was being examined.

She said: "If we do close the art gallery, and it is a big if, we would of course make alternative provision for it within a suitable venue in the town.

"No decision will be taken yet as the review is on-going, but we do hope to complete this as soon as possible."

The art gallery is regularly used by a number of local groups, including Darlington Arts Society.

Local artist Ian Wardle, from Aldbrough St John, said: "Many ordinary people living in the area are able to show art there and we don't know where these people are going to go."

The Crown Street library opened in 1885 under the Library Act and was built by renowned local architect GG Hoskins.

The art gallery was created in 1933 as an extension to the library and was a basic reading room before it was developed later.