MORE than 80 bus shelters are to be installed throughout a County Durham town.

A contract signed by Darlington Borough Council and Adshel will result in the shelters being placed on busy bus routes over the next two years.

Adshel, the UK's biggest street furniture company, provides the shelters free, in return for advertising rights at the busiest stops.

In addition, a number of non-advertising bus shelters are allocated to sites of the council's choosing, usually in less busy or rural parts of the borough.

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The news will be welcomed by bus users throughout the borough, and will hopefully encourage more people to use public transport.

"We have enjoyed a good working relationship with Adshel so far, and see this contract as an extension of an existing agreement with them."