THE death knell has been sounded for a County Durham court, following more than a year of debate.

County Durham Magistrates' Court Committee has finally taken the decision to close Chester-le-Street Magistrates Court - pending a consultation exercise.

The axe had been hanging over Bishop Auckland and Consett courts.

The closure of Chester-le-Street court would result in cases being dispersed to the three remaining courts in the north of the county in Peterlee, Consett and Durham City.

The committee's chief executive Bob Whitehouse said keeping all four courts open is not an option.

He said: "If people can come up with reasoning around the prospect of closing Chester-le-Street which we have not thought of we will consider it, because we don't have the monopoly on good ideas."

Proposals to close either Consett or Bishop Auckland magistrates' courts were met with strong protests when touted last year. The idea was eventually dropped because they served rural areas with little public transport, leaving either Chester-le-Street or Durham court facing the axe.

Mr Whitehouse said one court had to go, because collectively they were being used less than 50 per cent of the time.

Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation exercise should contact 0191-384 4455.