A GROUP of six district councils have criticised what they say are misleading claims by Durham County Council over the services it provides.

They were responding to a county council campaign of posters on bus shelters and in buses to tell people what services it provides.

Chester-le-Street, Easington, Derwentside, Sedgefield, Teesdale and Wear Valley district councils - which make up the Local Choice-Local Voice group - say the posters give the wrong impression.

Easington council leader Robin Todd said: "With the county council fighting at the moment to gets its preferred option of one unitary council on the forthcoming referendum ballot slip, we have to question its motives."

County council leader Ken Manton said: "It's difficult to see how anyone could interpret this as anything other than a public information campaign to reduce confusion and improve clarity over the provision of county council services. The posters clearly tell people what services we provide - and nothing more.