A hotel is to get a £1m extension which will create 16 new bedrooms and a function suite.

Work at the New Grange Hotel, in Southend Avenue, Darlington, will be carried out in two stages over 11 months to minimise disruption to people who are planning to hold events at the hotel.

The first part of the development will see the introduction of a new function suite, which will hold up to 150 guests.

The bedrooms will be built once the function suite has been completed in May.

Built on the site of the existing function room, the extension will include four floors of rooms.

Darlington-based Wharton Construction Ltd will carry out the construction work.

Once completed, the New Grange Hotel will have a total of 61 rooms available to guests.

The Grade II listed New Grange Hotel is owned and operated by Bannatyne Hotels Ltd - part of the business empire built up by Duncan Bannatye, who appears on the BBC TV series Dragon's Den.

Managing director Nigel Armstrong said: "This is an exciting development, which is our latest contribution to the economic life of Darlington. The new bedrooms and function suite will allow us to accommodate much larger events and increase the options for visitors to the area looking for a high quality hotel in a central location.

"We are undertaking the construction in separate stages as we always give serious consideration to the comfort and enjoyment of our guests."