DURHAM'S MP is urging that the historic city be considered as a location if thousands of civil servants are moved from the South-East.

Gerry Steinberg says that Durham has much to commend it and already has a track record of hosting civil service activities switched from other areas.

An independent review is being carried out by Sir Michael Lyons into the possibility of more than 20,000 civil servants and Government workers being moved out of London and the South-East.

But Mr Steinberg is concerned that the areas that would be considered if relocation is agreed would have populations of more than 100,000.

The population of the Durham City district is 81,000 and the MP is urging that the 100,000 limit be reconsidered. He said the city offered a central location in the region, good transport links, boasted a university with a world-class research pedigree and had hosted the relocation of National Savings workers in the 1960s and was chosen for the region's Passport Office.

"The fact that Durham is a small city has much to commend it, not least that it does not suffer many of the problems inherent in larger cities, including transport."