A VETERAN councillor has expressed his concerns over a new integrated service for people with learning difficulties.

Councillor Tony Moore said he feared the joint health and social services initiative for Sedgefield borough would not work.

The two teams will be taking over a large room in the Sedgefield Borough Council offices, at Spennymoor.

Coun Moore said the two groups had tried to work together at old people's homes, but they remained separate with two heads and two sets of staff.

He said: "We have tried and tested these joint efforts, and they haven't worked because the professionals at the top didn't want to give up their power."

Harry Cronin, director of mental health and nursing services at County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust, said the initiative was the result of new Government legislation.

All staff would be managed by one person, and it allowed for pooled budgets.

Mr Cronin said: "We want to improve the services, and to do that we want to break down some of the traditional barriers that existed between health and social services."