Two chief constables faced each other in public for the first time on Monday to battle it out and give their opposing views about how the North-East should be policed.

Sean Price of the Cleveland force and Paul Garvin of the County Durham force both claimed their ideas would be best for the region's residents.

They put forward strong arguments, backed by many facts and figures, to members of Teesdale District Council in a lengthy seminar at Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Mr Price wants his force to link up with the lower section of Durham, taking in Darlington, Sedgefield, Wear Valley and Teesdale, to form a new organisation with just over 2,500 officers.

He claimed that Cleveland police already have experience of dealing with major crimes and anti-social behaviour, and that it could link up easily with the other districts to give a first class public service.

He told the councillors: "We are committed to giving the best service we possibly can. A common problem everywhere is that people are afraid to go out at night because of anti-social behaviour.

"We try to solve that problem, not just by moving youngsters from one street corner to another. We deal with it properly, and that would be the case in these other districts if we link up with them."

Asked if his suggestion would lead to some rural areas like Teesdale getting less attention than highly populated places like Middlesbrough, he said his force already covered rural areas with community policing, and that would not be diminished.

But Mr Garvin replied that the public would get a better service from a much larger force with around 7,500 officers, which would be created by his choice, joining up the present forces of Cleveland, Durham and Northumberland.

He claimed if Cleveland joined part of Durham, council tax bills in Band D would rise about £50 a year, whereas if his option was chosen, "you will have as good if not better a service than you have now at no extra cost."

Councillor Arnold Smith asked Mr Garvin if he would ensure that the people in his village of Evenwood would have to put up with less anti-social behaviour than they suffer at the moment.

The chief constable replied: "I can't promise you will get more cops on the ground. But we will have the resources to tackle drug dealing, illegal booze running and illegal cigarette imports, all of which lead to trouble at local levels."

Councillor Ken Robinson, leader of Teesdale Council, said the seminar was arranged to help his members decide which option to support when they are asked in the near future to say how the North-East police service should be restructured.