THE leader of one of the region's most deprived communities has criticised the Government after a local health trust was closed.

The comments of Alan Napier, the leader of Easington District Council, followed Tuesday's announcement by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt that Easington Primary Care Trust will merge with neighbouring County Durham Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).

The trusts were set up six years ago to match NHS resources with local needs.

Easington is one of the most socially deprived areas of the country and has some of the poorest health in the region.

The decision to abolish the trust, as part of NHS spending cuts to reduce bureaucracy, was taken despite strong local opposition.

Councillor Napier said: "The people of Easington have once again been let down by central government. In the North-East, it is only the PCTs in County Durham that are to be merged, while the other trusts are left as they originally stood."

He said the Government "has chosen to ignore Easington PCT's board, the district council, the local MP and, most importantly, the people of Easington".