LIBERAL Democrats in Durham have launched their campaign for next month's city council and parish council elections with promises to keep the city clean and provide affordable housing.

The party will field candidates in all 50 seats on the city council - they defeated Labour in the 2003 vote - and in 91 parish council seats around the district.

City council leader Fraser Reynolds said: "This shows that our support is growing.

"We have had four years to make changes in the city after years of Labour complacency, and we can all remember their total mismanagement of the council's finances and services.

"Many people tell me that they know the Lib Dems have made our district better. We have done a lot, but there is still more to do.

"The Lib Dem team is standing on promises to keep Durham the cleanest city in the North, to help provide affordable housing in the district, and to provide 21st Century leisure facilities for everyone."

Council cabinet member and parliamentary candidate Carol Woods said: "It takes time to make changes. We have opened Durham up for business, and made the council much more efficient and forward thinking.

"We want to continue what we have started, and make Durham City and its villages vibrant and beautiful and great places in which to live, work and visit.

"The Lib Dems' greatest achievement in the past four years has been the construction of the new swimming pool and leisure centre.

"Labour talked about building a new pool for 20 years but never did it."