THE new ward boundaries for Darlington have been revealed and will come into effect for the elections next May.

The changes are the result of a Local Government Commission review carried out in 2000, which was the first review in 25 years.

It looked at changes in population in the town, new estates and the parts of Darlington which have become popular residential areas.

Each Darlington borough councillor is supposed to represent about 1,500 residents and the new ward boundaries will ensure that the councillors will be working in more even areas.

The changes will result in two fewer wards, as the North and South Northgate areas will become a single Northgate ward and the two Eastbourne areas will become one.

A new ward will be created in Faverdale to ensure people living on the new estates have their own councillor. A new area called Haughton North will also be created.

The changes will mean an extra councillor will be appointed to the borough council at the elections in May.

In the rural wards, Sadberge and Whessoe will merge.

The only wards not affected by the changes will be Middleton and Hurworth.

Anyone wanting to see how the ward changes will affect them can visit the Cornmill Centre today to see detailed plans, which were drawn up after an 18-month of consultation.

A council spokesman said: "The exhibition in the Cornmill Centre will give people the opportunity to have a look at the new ward boundaries and find out if the changes affect them.

"Town hall staff will be on hand to answer any questions and we hope lots of residents will come along."

The announcement of the new ward boundaries was made to coincide with Local Democracy Week.

As part of the week, local councillors will be holding street surgeries where they will walk around the town with police officers to listen to residents' concerns and comments.

Today, the Haughton East ward councillors will be touring the area with PC Steve Brown between 5.30pm and 7pm.