A park-and-ride scheme is being temporarily shelved over the New Year holiday.

Durham's fledgling £10m network, designed to encourage commuters to park at one of three edge-of-city sites, has proven popular since its inception earlier in the month.

It attracted 7,500 users over its trial first weekend, when there was no charge, while 5,384 people paid to use the regular shuttle bus runs into the city centre over the following week.

Buses leave the three parking sites - at Sniperley, Howlands Farm and Belmont - every ten minutes, using bus lanes to speed the journey into the centre.

A total of 1,052 parking spaces are available at the three sites, with the biggest at Belmont, just off the A690/A1(M) junction to the north-east of the city.

The service operates Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 7pm, with a £1.70 per day charge or £1.50 for pass holders.

County council highways officials are encouraged by the early figures and hope it continues to catch on.

"We're delighted with the public's reaction to park-and-ride so far," said a county council spokesman. "All the portents are good. More and more people are trying it and finding it suits their needs."

The service operates normally today, but it is suspended tomorrow and on Monday, when free on-street parking will be available in the city centre.

Normal service resumes at all park-and-ride sites on Tuesday, from 7am.