COUNCILLORS have agreed to write off more than £1m worth of unrecoverable debt.

Members of Darlington Borough Council's cabinet approved the move after all cost-effective measures to recover the £1,204,318 debt had been exhausted.

The figure for rent, business rates and council tax equates to less than one per cent of the entire bill for the borough.

And council leader, Councillor Bill Dixon praised the efforts of the finance team who have kept last year's losses to a minimum.

He said: "If businesses around the country had debt write-offs as low as this they would be in a better financial position. I think the officers should be congratulated that it is as low as it is."

The recommendation from Councillor Stephen Harker, cabinet member for efficiency and resources will now go before full council.