A FLAGSHIP development in central Durham City has sold out.

Apartments in the Freeman's Quay development, part of the massive Walkergate project, have been snapped up in a matter of weeks - even with a price tag of up to £245,000 for a two-bedroomed apartment.

Potential buyers were already queuing when the sales office opened in Millennium Place in the middle of last month. No w, all 35 flats have been sold.

Nicola Osborne, partner and head of Knight Frank's residential team in the North-East, said: "It shows the underlying strength of the North-East property market and the fact that high-quality schemes in good locations will continue to attract strong interest from buyers in a more realistic and sustainable market."

The apartments are part of Amec's £35m mixed-use scheme, which involves development on three separate sites.

Featuring a hotel, residential apartments, bars, shops, restaurants and a 500-space multi-storey car park, the project will form a new link between the city centre and the River Wear, bordering the Gala Theatre.

Dan Needham, senior development surveyor at Amec, said: "I am delighted that buyers have shown their confidence in the changing face of this important area of the city, which will become a bustling and attractive riverside environment for residents, shoppers and visitors once the whole scheme is complete, providing a fitting extension to Durham's Millennium City project."

The whole Walkergate development is due for completion next year.