Plans to put an illuminated sign outside a council office complex have been dubbed potentially dangerous and inappropriate.

The proposal is to site an electronic sign board on land near the main entrance to Durham County Council's County Hall headquarters.

The board would be visible to motorists every day as they drove off the A691 roundabout, leading into and out of Durham city centre.

It would bill events at County Hall, issue weather warnings and provide other public information, instead of temporary banners that are used on railings near the entrance.

The 4.8-metre by 3-metre pole-mounted sign would be made of hard plastic with a textured finish to stop glare.

Its message section would have three rows of yellow text, on a black background, which could be read from 200 metres.

John Suckling, the county council's head of planning, said: "This location was chosen to maximise views of the sign from the three main approaches to County Hall, along Dryburn Road, Southfield Way and North End."

He said the council's highway authority had reservations over its positioning.

Mr Suckling said: "However, it considers that, provided the display message remains on screen for a set period of time and there is a blank screen between messages, it would be acceptable in highway safety terms."

But objections have been lodged by Durham City Council and the City of Durham Trust.

The city council said it would be "detrimental to visual amenity in such a prominent and important approach to the city".

Trust chairman Roger Cornwell said it would also pose possible highway safety fears.

"It is the sort of sign you see on a motorway where you need something big grabbing the attention of someone travelling at 70mph," he said.

"But this is a roundabout with five exits and is very busy. You don't want to be distracted by something like this while negotiating such a roundabout.

"At least the existing banners are more low-key."

Despite the opposition, the county council's planning committee is recommended to grant consent for the proposed sign when it meets on Wednesday.