IT may be better known for its dramatic scenery and rare wildlife, but a part of rural County Durham has emerged as the unlikely party capital of the North-East - in a survey by The Northern Echo.

Today, as new drinking laws come into effect, only seven pubs or clubs in the region have been granted 24-hour licences - and they are all in Teesdale.

Two years ago, Teesdale was named the best value place in which to live in Britain, and in April last year the district went an entire week with only one crime reported - an attempted shed break-in.

Dreda Forster, chairwoman of the licensing committee at Teesdale District Council, said the outcome had more to do with the rural nature of the district than its party-going inhabitants.

She said: "We didn't have any objections to these applications, so they went through without any hearings.

"But when you are talking about somewhere like the Langdon Beck, there is hardly anyone to complain, except the sheep.

"I don't think any of these pubs will be open 24 hours a day."

The council only needed to have three hearings for 87 applications from pubs and clubs.

Those with permission to open 24 hours a day are: Ancient Unicorn, at Bowes; Blacksmith Arms, in Mickleton; Diamond Inn, in Butterknowle; Langdon Beck, in Forest in Teesdale; Sportsmans Inn, in Toft Hill; Strathmore, in Holwick; Barnard Castle Cricket Club.

The Northern Echo asked 18 councils, between Newcastle to York, how many premises had been given permission to open 24 hours a day.

But other than Teesdale, only Harrogate Borough Council had granted a 24-hour licence to a pub or club - and that was to the Drovers Inn, near Harrogate, another rural pub.

A number of supermarkets have been given permission to sell alcohol 24 hours a day.

Newcastle Airport has also been given permission - beyond the check-in point.

Snoozing or boozing - Page 5