A PERMANENT library service could be created in Coundon.

Durham County Council hopes to improve services to the village after its trailer library was withdrawn last year.

Since then the community has been served by a mobile library, but the council is now looking for a permanent home for the facility.

It has applied to Wear Valley District Council for planning permission to use part of 11 The Crescent as a library until a decision is made over a permanent site.

Part of the building, owned by the District Council, is already used one morning and one afternoon each week as a GP's surgery by Auckland Medical Practice.