The scheme, believed to be the first of its type in the North East, aims to encourage people to make greater use of public transport.

More than 30 bus stops in the rural areas of the borough and 10 in the town will be fitted with CCTV cameras.

They will be fitted in vandal-proof boxes and have the capacity to store images for up to 28 days.

'Poor facilities'

The �130,000 project will also include improvements to lighting, upgrading information and refurbishment of all 45 bus stops.

Funding will come from the council's Local Transport Plan budget and from the government's Rural Bus Challenge grant.

Nick Wallis, Darlington Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "Our research tells us that people are discouraged from using public transport if facilities are poor.

"The closed circuit television cameras will help give people extra reassurance and cut vandalism because they are a proven deterrent for vandals."