BOLLARDS which have hampered ambulances trying to reach patients in Newton Aycliffe town centre are to be removed.

Emergency vehicles have sometimes been unable to enter the shopping area via the normal route because nobody could be found with a key to unlock the bollards.

It meant that crucial time attending an emergency could be lost while an alternative route was found.

Now the town centre's landlords have agreed to remove a bollard and install signs saying access is only permitted for emergency vehicles.

Councillor Tony Moore, who had pressed for the removal of the bollards, said: "I believe this will put the shoppers of the town at ease, because they have been very concerned.

"The landlords have been approached by a number of people who have had worries about the situation and I'm glad it has been resolved."

A spokesman for the North-East Ambulance Service, which also approached the landlords about the problem, said: "We are absolutely delighted, because it will help our response to future 999 calls into the town centre area.

"We're very pleased with the reaction of the town centre owners and we know that the police and fire service have also been involved in meetings that we held.

"We are waiting written confirmation that the bollards are going to be removed, but as I understand it they are going to come down soon."

A spokesman for the town centre landlord said he did not wish to comment.