A COUNCIL locked in a legal battle with another local authority has accused it of rejecting an "olive branch" which would settle the dispute.

Darlington Borough Council has offered to share responsibility for a former landfill site at Creeback, which Durham County Council has had responsibility for, but does not want, since arbitration after the local government reorganisation of 1997.

The offer has been turned down by Durham - which was given permission in July to appeal to the High Court over the decision to make it responsible for Creeback and liable for a £1m interest payment.

The case between the two authorities, which has also involved shares in the region's airports, has already resulted in legal costs running to tens of thousands of pounds.

Councillor John Williams, leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: "We are anxious to get this settled without further redress in court.

"Unfortunately, the county council has turned down the olive branch out of hand.

"We wanted to come to some sort of understanding that would short circuit the legal process. We wonder why they are not prepared to be reasonable."

He said Darlington had offered to split the £1m bill.

But Durham County Council believes it will win its appeal.

A spokesman said: "We have rejected the offer because we think we have got a good case.

"It is possible that Darlington Borough Council has offered us this olive branch because they too share this view.

"We feel fully justified in continuing with the action we are taking."