CIVIC leaders from Russia are to arrive today for a fact-finding tour of County Durham.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Kostroma, Dr Irina Pereverzeva and Elena Nevskaya, will make their first visit to the county, which is twinned with Kostroma.

The delegation will spend a week looking at different aspects of the county, including the structure of Durham County Council, waste management, environment, culture and leisure, community support projects and the fire and rescue service.