DURHAM has emerged as the firm favourite to host the North-East's own parliament, should the public vote for an elected regional assembly.

The region's historic capital could prove the modern power base if voters opt for regional government in a referendum next autumn.

Durham County Council has earmarked a suitable building on its County Hall site, at Aykley Heads, as the assembly's first parliament.

The authority has also identified a green field site on the nearby Durham Police headquarters' playing fields, should an elected assembly decide it wants its own purpose-built base.

Durham is seen as a compromise to prevent any Tyne-Tees or Tyne-Wear rivalry over the site of the potential parliament.

Local government minister Nick Raynsford has backed the plans and said he felt there would be a lot of public support for the North-East's historic capital to provide the setting for the regional assembly.

Brian Hall, campaign co-ordinator for a North-East Assembly, said the 'consensus' is for Durham to be the base, both geographically and historically.

Bob Gibson, leader of Stockton Council and of the existing, non-elected North-East Assembly, said Durham would be 'the ideal location.'

"What you have to remember is that the assembly is looking for a temporary home and the elected assembly would then make a choice after that where they want to be situated more permanently.

"We have a job of finding a home and Durham County Council has kindly offered a refurbished building which may be the answer in the short term. In terms of location Durham would be ideal.

"It has to be a compromise. This is good office accommodation and may well fit the bill as an interim measure.

"It should find favour with most people. My view is we ought to make a decision on the temporary location quite soon and then it's out of the way."

Coun Gibson said it is a 'fairly tight schedule' but if the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, gives the go-ahead by next June, the referendum could take place by October.

Ken Manton, leader of Durham County Council, said the building earmarked now houses the county library service and the laboratories of the highways department, which could both be transferred elsewhere.

"It's a Sixties building and in need of renovation and refurbishment. Obviously there will be a basic cost of refurbishment to tailor it to the requirements of the assembly, if an assembly comes into being.

"What we are proposing would provide a short to medium term solution.

"In the longer term we have earmarked a green field location further up on the Aykley Heads site where a new building could be situated.

"From the day that the announcement was made that there would be a referendum for a regional assembly we threw our hat into the ring.

"Quite clearly we want the headquarters to be in Durham because of its geographic location in the middle of the region and its historic status. We have always felt Durham is a natural choice."