A COURT hearing which could end a £1.1m legal battle between local authorities will begin at the end of July.

Durham County Council was ordered to pay £2.2m and £1.1m interest to Darlington Borough Council earlier this year.

The county council is disputing the interest ruling and a High Court appeal will be heard.

The fight over the money, part of a £12m development fund, began after Darlington split from the county council in a shake-up.