Plans to build County Durham's first community fire station have been approved - but proposals for another in a neighbouring town have been put on hold.

Outline planning permission for a station in Bishop Auckland, which would be opened to residents, has been granted.

But the Highway Agency has raised an objection to plans for a similar fire station in Spennymoor.

Fire chiefs in Bishop Auckland now hope full planning permission will be granted by the Office of Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

Allan Wood, area manager special projects, said of the Bishop Auckland plan: "It is still some time away from coming to fruition, but we are taking it one stage at a time and we are hopeful.

"The ODPM supported the initial application so we are working to ensure they do again when it comes before them in October."

If approved, a station would be built in Fylands Grove, Tindale Crescent, funded by public sector money.

It would include training services for firefighters and multimedia rooms for members of the public, schools and businesses.

Mr Wood said the exact details of how much it would cost had yet to be confirmed as an affordability survey was still being carried out. He added: "We are very close to getting that documentation.

"There are a number of hurdles we have to overcome but the fact that we have got outline planning permission for Bishop Auckland is great news."

A blueprint has also been drawn-up to replace the existing station in Watling Road with residential buildings.

However, plans for a second community station in Spennymoor have been temporarily withdrawn after an objection was raised relating to the width of nearby roads.

Mr Wood said: "We have been in discussions and we are hopefully not too far away from resolving it."

Fire service unions have backed moves to strengthen links with the community.

But they have raised concerns about a possible scheme where crews from Durham fire station would be brought in to maintain a 24-hour service.