A NORTH-EAST bus station will close after the last bus tomorrow as work starts on a £250,000 facelift.

Little has been done to the 1970s-built facility in Durham City in recent years which has been criticised for giving visitors arriving by bus a poor first impression of the area.

But Durham County Council is buying the facility from its owner, bus company Arriva, and will upgrade it as part of a drive to improve public transport in the county.

Work starts on Monday and will take a little over three months. The improvements will include the enclosure of the passenger concourse, upgrading closed-circuit televisions, seating provision, better lighting and new flooring.

The bus station will also get "real-time'' arrival and departure information that will tell passengers if their bus is running late.

Departure stands will be moved temporarily to North Road and Milburngate. Stands one to five will be in North Road and six to ten in Milburngate.

Martin Harris, commercial director for bus operator Go North-East, apologised to passengers for any disruption.

He said: "We have worked closely with the council to make sure disruption is kept to a minimum.

"We are urging passengers to take note of the new stopping details to avoid any unnecessary disruption when work begins.

"However, the work which will be carried out will be extremely beneficial for all who travel to and from Durham City by bus. The region's public transport network as a whole needs investment such as this to provide passengers with high quality facilities in a clean and safe environment and improve the bus travel experience."

Go North-East services will operate from: Stand 1, North Road - Aykley Heads/University Hospital, services 220 and 222.

Stand 3, North Road - Croxdale, Spennymoor, Bishop Auckland, 41, 42, 722, 724 and X24.

Stand 4, North Road - Chester-le-Street and Newcastle, 21, 722, 723, 724, X24 and X50.

Stand 6, Milburngate - Claypath, Belmont and Sunderland, 42, 154, 220, 222 and X20.

Stand 8, Milburngate - Sacriston, Langley Park, Stanley and Consett 53, 54/754, 718/719/720/818 and 765/766.

Arriva Services will run from the following stands: Stand 1 - Aykley Heads/Railway Station, services 5/6, Aykley Heads, 22, 50, 60 and 65, Easington Village, 240.

Stand 2 - Hartlepool, 13, 20, 22, 56, 57, 242 and X11.

Stand 3 - Bishop Auckland, 5/6, Darlington, 235/6 and 723, Middlesbrough X1.

Stand 4 - Newcastle and Chester-le-Street, 1X, X1, X41 and 723.

Stand 5 - Newton Hall and Brasside, 62,63,64.

Stand 6 - Belmont and Pittington, 60, 62, 65.

Stand 7 - Musgrave Gardens and Sherburn, 63/4.

Stand 9 - Ushaw Moor, East Hedleyhope, New Brancepeth, 43, 44, 48 and 52.

Stand 10 - Crook, Brandon and Wolsingham, 46, 49, 50 and 51