A RESIDENT was surprised to see a council worker replacing the bus stop outside her house - as buses have not been running there for the past two years.

Isobella Riordan lives in Swaledale Avenue, Darlington, where there are some serving bus stops. But the one outside her house stopped operating in 2003.

On Wednesday morning, she got up to find a Darlington Borough Council worker replacing the bus stop with a brand new one.

Mrs Riodan believes it is a waste of public money to replace the stop and is asking the council to justify the work.

She said: "The route outside my house stopped two years ago because it just wasn't a viable service anymore.

"It didn't cause a problem for the residents, as there are other bus routes which run along the street."

A council spokesman said improvements to bus stops were being made across the borough.

"Buses do run on some parts of Swaledale Avenue," he said. "If there is a part where there are bus stops that are not in use at the moment, it doesn't mean they won't be in the future, as routes can be changed.

"If we are in an area, it seems pointless to do only some stops and not others.

"It is more economical in the long run to improve all of the stops than only some and then have to return."