The transport minister Karen Buck today praised highways chiefs for their courage and vision in opening one of the country's biggest park-and-ride schemes.

Mr Buck, who arrived half an hour late due to a delayed train, performed the official opening of a £10m scheme geared at cutting traffic congestion in the heart of Durham City.

The ceremony was conducted at the Belmont park-and-ride site - one of three which ring the city.

The scheme, introduced by Durham County Council, is designed to take long-stay traffic out of the city centre and deal with the city's notorious parking problems.

Ms Buck said: "I am delighted to be able to open the first bus-based park and ride scheme in the entire North-East, a scheme that will transform travel into Durham City.

"Traffic congestion is a growing problem everywhere in the country but in beautiful historic cities such as Durham it is a particular problem.

"There will be a need for roads, but we will never be able to build our way out of traffic congestion. We need imaginative, creative and courageous solutions."

Council leader Ken Manton said the park-and-ride scheme was the final part of the county council's traffic management jigsaw, designed to tackle traffic and parking problems in the historic city.

He said that at a cost of £1.70 per adult, it was among the lowest fees for a comparable scheme in country.

He said: "I'm sure park-and-ride will quickly establish itself as the preferred means of getting into Durham City for commuters, shoppers and visitors.

"It's cheap, easy and convenient and does away with the daily struggle of trying to find a long-stay parking space."

The park-and-ride sites provide a total of 1,100 parking spaces from 7pm to 7pm, monitored by CCTV and linked to the city centre by shuttle buses which run every ten minutes.

The scheme starts on Saturday and will be free for the weekend.