A man charged with breathing new life into an area's ailing hostelries has been barred by his council bosses.

Len Alderson had what looked like the job of a lifetime - being paid £15,000- a-year to encourage people to go to rural pubs.

The 52-year-old, charged with persuading landlords to sell food and be more family friendly, has now been suspended from duty as Mine Host Project Co-ordinator.

It follows comments he made to the media on taking up the job in which he suggested pubs in Weardale area of County Durham disliked "incomers."

He was quoted as saying: "In some places there is still almost an animosity to any outsider coming in, which is a real problem to get over. Some people do not want the tourists, they don't see outsiders as a source of revenue, they see them as a problem."

He added: "The locals could prove difficult. People are wary of incomers, but they should see the benefits, because many of the people who drink in the pub, work in local businesses which will obviously benefit from an increase in visitors.

"We don't want to teach landlords to suck eggs, but they need to know how to deal with people and not to see them as a threat.

"They should look at what's available in terms of food provision and the little things they can do to improve the accommodation on offer. We get visitors in once but we are not getting them back.

"People have been a bit inward-looking and are quite happy with what they have. So it's a matter of educating them, looking at what can be done."

He was appointed by Wear Valley District Council to work a 28-hour week targeting 16 pubs in the 15-mile stretch between Wolsingham and Cowshill on the Cumbrian border, on the main route from Weardale to Penrith and the Lake District.

But his council bosses were furious with his comments, which they took as an insult to the people of the Dale. Marketing and Communication manager Craig Downs said: "He has been suspended pending an investigation.

"There were certain remarks made in media interviews which have caused some concern and these are being investigated in an internal enquiry.

"We have to stress that we are completely committed to this project and the benefits it will bring to the district. "The project will continue despite the investigation into the conduct of the co-ordinator."

At home yesterday Mr Alderson said: "I'm afraid I am unable to comment on what has happened."