LEADING councillors representing Durham City have launched an outspoken criticism of their neighbours -accusing them of plans to "milk the city dry" under local government reorganisation.

Under plans to streamline local government if the region backs an assembly, Durham City Council would cease to exist.

Instead, council services would be run either by a county-wide authority or a new group formed by merging the council with Easington District -one of the North-East's most deprived areas.

Labour and LibDem councillors, who are backing a single authority, united to say the proposed merger option offered the city a raw deal.

They are also proposing the establishment of a town council to represent the city centre.

County Council deputy leader Don Ross said: "A new East Durham Council would just be a larger Easington District Council under another name.

"When you consider that they are already planning to build a new council headquarters in Easington, it is pretty clear to see that they have a takeover rather than a merger on their minds."

LibDem Councillor John Lightley said: "Rather than being concerned about the future needs of our unique city, they simply see it as a satellite area which they can milk dry."

The claims were dismissed by Easington council's deputy leader, who said large parts of Durham district were similar to Easington.

Councillor Robin Todd said: "Two-thirds of the population of Durham is very similar in character to Easington -Bowburn and Coxhoe and the other former mining villages have the same sort of heritage, the same sort of people and the same sort of situation as Easington and I do not think there is a problem.