A COUNCILLOR has described an invite to an anti-terrorism training session as “nothing more than ridiculous”.

Durham County Councillor John Shuttleworth said he was surprised to be asked to attend the session at County Hall being delivered by the North East Counter Terrorism Unit.

It is part of the Government’s ‘Prevent’ strategy which aims to identify  people at risk of being drawn into terrorism.

Cllr Shuttleworth said: “This is a mile over the top.

“Do we live in North Korea or something?”

Cllr Shuttleworth claimed he had also been given safety advice not to arrange meetings with constituents in his Weardale patch, but instead meet them at County Hall.

He said: “I’m not going to trail somebody from near the Cumbrian border 35 miles to Durham, I will go up and see them.”

An e-mail sent to members of the local authority said: “Over recent months there have been a number of attacks in the UK and the issue of extreme right wing activity in County Durham and Darlington is of concern to us.

“Given the threat levels and members’ leading role in their communities we hope as many members as possible will be able to attend.”

Alison Lazazzera, the council’s head of people and talent management, said all councils were required to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and for elected members and senior officers to undergo training.

A spokeswoman for Durham Police said: “Councils have an important role to play in combating extremism.

“In light of the current threat level, which remains at severe, it is everyone’s responsibility to be vigilant.”