A COUNCIL is being urged to improve the state of the changing rooms at some of the sports pitches it runs.

Durham City Council's community services scrutiny panel visited several sites as part of its review of the council's playing pitch strategy and found that some were wanting.

The panel described the facilities at Bearpark Recreation Ground as "not very clean, including kitchen area" and criticised the "unnecessary"storage of equipment and state of some unused mall rooms.

"A user team has one female player and consideration will need to be given to providing appropriate facilities.''

The panel said that the Sun Lounge, at Esh Winning, was in a "poor state of repair and will need attention" and that Ushaw Moor Recreation Ground would require ongoing maintenance.

However, it said recently-installed facilities at Bowburn Recreation Ground were in a "very good condition"and "well cared for".

The panel recommended that the council keep its pitches for recreation and find ways of encouraging better use of under-used sites.