RESIDENTS of a County Durham market town face a "stark" choice between cops and a copse, Durham's Chief Constable has warned.

Durham Constabulary wants to sell the disused former police station in Bede Kirk, Barnard Castle, which it says would generate a six-figure sum to support frontline policing.

However, chief constable Mike Barton, said the proposed sale is now "under threat" after Barnard Castle Town Council, on behalf of residents and campaigners, lodged an application to have the 1.36-acre site declared a village green.

Protection orders have also been placed on several dozen mature trees bordering the site.

Chief constable Mike Barton said he is "extremely frustrated" over the delay.

He said: "It boils down to a straightforward choice between cops and a copse.

"We can't say exactly how much the site is worth due to commercial sensitivities, but it's safe to say that if the sale doesn't go ahead it would cost Durham Police a six-figure sum: money which would otherwise be available to support frontline policing."

The former police station, which was built in 1977, has been standing empty since last year when officers moved into a new £3.4m emergency hub in Wilson Street, shared with the fire, ambulance and mountain rescue services.

Durham's Police, Crime and Victims' Commissioner Ron Hogg also hopes to sell the vacant site, roughly half of which is occupied by the empty police buildings and half by the station's grounds, to a Darlington-based developer who wants to build bungalows for the elderly.

However, last summer, an application was lodged with Durham County Council to designate the area as a protected village green.

A date has yet to be set for a decision on the application and the force continues to pay for the maintenance of the building.

Mr Barton added: "Police budgets have been squeezed and squeezed over the years, which means we're constantly striving to do more with less.

"It just seems like common sense: the development would replace an ugly former police station, offer taxpayers good value for money and support officers on the frontline.

"Money doesn't grow on trees and it is extremely frustrating that such an opportunity could potentially be wasted".

Barnard Castle Town Council clerk, Michael King, said he will represent the town council when a meeting to make a decision on the application is held.

He said: "We submitted an application to register Bede Kirk, with evidence supplied by locals, back in the summer.

"Durham Constabulary and Railway Housing raised objections during the statutory notice period, which the town council responded to."