ORGANISERS of a light show on the County Durham coast have neglected towns in the south of the county, according to a councillor.

Councillor Tony Moore said residents of large towns, including Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor and Shildon, had not been told about the show, which takes place tomorrow.

He said organisers should have laid on free buses, as they have done in East Durham.

The light show along 12 miles of coastline has been created to celebrate Turning the Tide, a project to restore the coastline to its former beauty.

Three sites have been chosen, at Dawdon, Easington Colliery and Crimdon Park, to provide the best view of the Sea of Lights display.

Coun Moore said: "It has been a transformation down there, and all the agencies involved in it, especially Durham County Council, have done a first-class job for the people of the region. But I feel we have been neglected in this promotion.

"I think we should have been included in the celebrations, because for a long time people in this part of the county have taken their children to Crimdon Dene, and they would love to see the transformation."

But organisers of the event have denied that anyone has been neglected.

Ray Leonard, project manager for Turning the Tide, conceded that much of the publicity had been directed towards the Easington district, where people have been most affected by the changes.

But he said that advertisements and articles had appeared in the regional press, including The Northern Echo, and on the radio and television.

He said: "We want people to know about the event and attend it, and we have tried to promote it quite widely.

"We hope people from all over the county and further afield can get there, and hope that nobody feels excluded. All are welcome - the more the merrier."

The entertainment at the three sites starts at 7pm, and the Sea of Lights display will start at 9.30pm.