A COUNCIL has said that they are not to blame for holes in the road, a number of temporary traffic lights and road congestion in Crook town centre.

Some residents have complained about the disruption caused by ongoing work, but Durham County Council say work they are carrying out is not behind the problems.

The latest phase of their urban and rural renaissance initiative to improve the centre of town is confined to one particular area of the town centre and is fenced off as a self-contained building site.

The council's work has involved the temporary placement of a set of lights which were there for a maximum of ten days, does not involve digging holes in the highway and should not create congestion problems.

However, there are major works involving the renewal of water mains and improvements to sewer pipes which do involve roadworks and traffic management systems in and around the town.

A council spokesman said: "These are being undertaken by other contractors working for the public utilities involved and are not associated with the county council.

"As the highways authority, however, we are in regular contact with those utilities and will continue to impress upon them the need to keep noise and disruption to a minimum.

"However, it is difficult to carry out the major works they are doing without some inconvenience."