PLANNING officials have been criticised for erecting a Mediterranean-style bus shelter which leaves passengers freezing and soaking wet.

The greenhouse-like shelter, put up in Wolsingham as part of a £300,000 Market Place enhancement scheme, has no sides and is open to the elements.

It cost £12,000 and has a wrought iron frame with glass panels.

Townspeople say it is out of character with the rest of the Market Place and is a waste of money.

More than 300 residents and business people have signed a petition protesting at the shelter, describing it as "ludicrous and inadequate".

It will be presented to Durham County Council by the petition organiser, former shopkeeper Dorothy Gascoigne, later this week.

Mrs Gascoigne said: "The new shelter would be more at home in some Mediterranean country where they have good weather, not in Weardale, where the weather can be atrocious.

"Old people rely heavily on public transport to get about here, and they will get their death of cold if they have to wait in this shelter. It is like standing in a wind tunnel."

She said: "I can't see what's wrong with the old shelter, which has served the town for so many years .

"It is nice and cosy next to the town hall and only needs a bit of a clean-up from time to time."

Wear Valley and Wolsingham parish councillor Vere Shuttleworth said he understood the complaints of residents, but they had come too late.

He said: "There was a long consultation period before any work on the Market Place was started and people had their opportunity to object then.

"The county council has told the parish council that sides will be put in the bus shelter to protect passengers from the weather.

"We have also been given an assurance that the old shelter will not be demolished until the new one is complete."

The shelter has been built by the county council as part of a big Market Place enhancement scheme mainly funded by English Heritage.

The project has already been criticised for causing a reduction in business and cutting back drastically on car parking spaces.