PLANS to close the magistrates courts at Bishop Auckland and Consett have been dropped after strong protests.

But the County Durham's Magistrates Courts Committee is proposing to close a court at Durham City, or Chester-le-Street, six miles from the city.

The closures of Consett and Bishop Auckland courts were proposed on costs grounds, because the two buildings were estimated to need £115,978 and £70,517 respectively to maintain them over the next five years. The money saved from the closures would have been used to improving other court buildings.

But the proposals met with strong opposition in both areas from magistrates and community leaders, who were concerned that people would face long journeys to other courts.

Courts committee deputy chief executive Royston Dent said: "The committee took into account all the views and also the Government's Rural White Paper.

Mr Dent said the new closure proposal would "allow us to provide improved facilities, rather than trying to run all types of court at every location, which, bearing in mind the age and size of the buildings, is inappropriate.

"The public would notice an upgrade and improvement in the service we provide 'front of house','' he said.

The committee has also shelved the idea of building a "super court'' to serve the whole county.

Wear Valley District Council leader Olive Brown, a former magistrate, said: "I welcome the decision and I pay tribute to the committee for having made it. It would be such a long way to travel to Darlington or Newton Aycliffe, or wherever, and the district has one of the lowest levels of car ownership in the country.

"Closing the court at Bishop Auckland would be horrendous for people in Teesdale. It is bad enough for them to get to Bishop Auckland."