A PASSPORT office is due to close its doors for the last time this week as services switch to a new site.

The Durham Passport Office at Milburngate House in the city centre will close on Friday, August 26 and will reopen at Freeman’s Reach, on the opposite side of the River Wear on Tuesday, August 30.

Any customers who require a passport urgently over the bank holiday weekend should contact the passport advice line on 0300 222 0000.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “HM Passport Office looks forward to opening the new Durham office at Freeman’s Reach to the public later this month.

“The move is a significant part of the regeneration of the area.

“HM Passport Office is focused on delivering high quality customer service by providing a safe, secure and efficient passport service.

“We do that by making best use of our resources and ensuring value for money for our customers.”

The new passport office is part of the £27 million development to regenerate the area which was the home of Durham’s former ice skating rink.

It is sharing the building with National Savings and Investments [NS&I], which moved in several months ago.

Milburngate House is due to be knocked down and turned into 400 new homes, a boutique Everyman cinema, restaurants and bars and office space.