WEBSITE cameras could soon be beamed from a North- East council's meetings into taxpayers' homes.

Durham County Council's Cabinet will next week consider broadcasting its meetings live via the Internet in a pilot scheme.

As well as taking residents directly to the seat of County Durham's local government, the initiative could also prove a money- spinner if companies and couples pay to have their conferences and wedding ceremonies beamed from the authority's headquarters at County Hall to colleagues, friends and relatives all over the world.

The pilot scheme is due to be considered by the Council's Cabinet on Thursday, but authority leader Ken Manton said yesterday that the potential benefits of webcasting were now widely accepted.

"The pilot scheme would be another step along the way towards us bringing public facilities into the 21st Century, making the council more open, accountable and inclusive and making our officers and members more accessible.