CHANGES to bus services across County Durham come into force on Sunday.

Every four years, Durham County Council renegotiates contracts for its services with bus service operators.

The authority spends £3.7m per year on subsidising services that would otherwise not operate because they are not financially viable.

It is keen to ensure that the money is used to provide good value for residents and to help prevent social exclusion for as many people as possible.

Comments from bus users have been taken into account in drawing up some of the alterations.

The changes will coincide with alterations to some unsubsidised commercial services.

Many services will remain unchanged, others will be slightly 'tweaked', while a minority will be substantially altered, said the council.

Simon Day, a section manager with the council's public transport group, said: "The vast majority of users, more than 95 per cent, won't see any change in services at all.

"In some cases, it just might be that the service provider has changed, or a different numbered bus now operates on a particular route.

"Where appropriate, we have made timetable alterations. Some users will see an increase in service frequency.

"Detailed monitoring of bus usage and feedback from customers has played a big role in the alterations."

The biggest changes will take place in Bishop Auckland.

Mr Day said: "We have linked in the changes to our subsidised routes to coincide with amendments to the commercial services in order to minimise the overall affect on customers."

The changes have been publicised on the affected routes, as well as on the council's on-line journey planner at the website www.durham.gov.uk

Customers can also find about the changes by telephoning the council's traveline on 0870 608 2 608 between 7am and 8pm.