TRADERS were dismayed yesterday after eye-catching window displays were removed from an empty town centre store - because of a threat to charge rates on it.

Volunteers filled the window with photographs, posters and ornaments because they felt the unused property was spoiling the image of the main shopping street, in Barnard Castle.

Their efforts transformed the four sections of window space in the former Partners department store, which has been empty for months.

Many shoppers stopped to admire the display, which featured scenes of Teesdale beauty spots, including High Force waterfall and the Bowes Museum - and tourism officials were delighted with the reaction.

But yesterday, the windows in Horsemarket were bleak and empty again, because Teesdale District Council pointed out that if anything was left in them, they would have to charge business rates amounting to more than £12,000 a year.

Sue Reay, the council's director of corporate services, said: "The displays in the windows were great and were put up with the best of intentions.

"But the rules state that if anything is kept in premises, business rates have to be charged. This is a national rule. We simply have to collect these rates and pass them on to the Government. We have no discretion."

Allen Jenkins, a decorator who provided some items for the display, said: "This is bureaucracy gone mad.

"The windows looked terrible and lowered the tone of the town centre before we did our bit to make them attractive.

"Now they look horrible again, and I suppose they will have to stay that way until a new owner or tenant is found for the store. Many business people are really annoyed about it."

Barrington Wearmouth, of the estate agents Reeds Rains, said yesterday that negotiations are taking place with a potential new tenant for the store, and that an agreement might be reached in the near future.