COUNTY crusaders are threatening to take down road signs in a row over historic geographical borders.

Activists from the national CountyWatch group are threatening to remove several Welcome to County Durham signs that are several miles away from the traditional boundaries.

Historically, County Durham started by the River Tees and ended at the River Tyne, taking in Sunderland, South Shields and Gateshead.

But new boundaries were created as part of the Local Government Act in 1974, meaning several boroughs were removed from the county to become newly-established areas in their own right.

In 1997, Darlington became a unitary authority, meaning it was administratively separate from County Durham.

However, CountyWatch is keen to preserve ancient boundaries which go back hundreds of years, and has targeted several other areas of the country in the past.

Twelve signs in County Durham are said to be located away from the historical borders.

CountyWatch campaigner Tony Bennett said: "We have been notified of this situation in Durham and have been in touch with Durham County Council.

"They have refused to re-site these signs to the true Durham boundaries and we have active plans to remove them unless they immediately do so."

The group cites the Highways Act 1980, which permits the public to remove signs "not lawfully placed on the highway".

A spokesman for Durham County Council said signs are placed where they will be useful to members of the public.

He added: "We are statutorily obliged to put road signs at the border of the county council's administrative area."

Two years ago, a mystery protestor used parcel tape to blot out the words County Durham on signs marking the border with North Yorkshire, close to the A66, near Barnard Castle.