New £9m park and ride scheme open

The scheme will free up spaces in the centre for shoppers

A major park and ride scheme serving Durham city centre is to be officially opened on Thursday by Transport Minister Karen Buck.

The £9m scheme will see three car parks built on the edge of Durham at Belmont, Sniperley and Howland's Farm, linked to the centre by frequent bus services.

It is aimed primarily at commuters and all-day visitors, freeing-up spaces in the city centre for shoppers.

Ms Buck will also travel to Darlington to see new travel schemes in the town.

The park and ride sites will offer a total of 1,100 long-stay places and free up an equivalent number of short-stay places in the city centre.

The sites will be at each of the three main routes into the city centre, at Belmont near the A1(M) motorway interchange, Sniperley near the main western approach and at Howlands Farm on the main route in from the south.