EFFORTS to make County Durham greener will be discussed at an international conference next week.

Maggie Bosanquet, who leads the county council's sustainability team, has been invited to address a conference in Malmo, Sweden on Monday, which will also be addressed by a delegation from Seattle, in the US.

She said: "Our reputation on sustainability is now known around the world.

"Sweden and Seattle are both big players in the field with very good reputations which makes the invitation to explain what we are doing here even more prestigious.

"In a sense, it's a bit like taking coals to Newcastle but we can always learn from each other. I'll be giving a flavour of some of the work we have been doing, including creating a Fair Trade County and sustainable communities.

"We've just recently held a conference on corporate social responsibility attended by over 70 major businesses in the region and another aimed at encouraging businesses to switch to biodiesel, which has a less damaging effect on climate change. Everyone can do their bit, from giving up the daily school run and walking to sustainable building construction and manufacturing."