'Hellhole' village where refugees are 'dumped' by London councils

Former mining village of Eldon Lane in County Durham has become a 'hellhole' and a 'dumping ground' for refugees for councils in London .

Locals say the village has long been 'forgotten' by local and national administrations.

The former mining village has 39 per cent of households living in deprivation.

Anti-social behaviour and crime has become so extreme in the village that bus drivers refused to stop in the area.

Eldon Lane was one of many villages across County Durham that sprang up to support the coalfield.

For a short time it prospered as villagers served three pits in the same valley, however Eldon closed in 1932 ; Black Boy in 1939 , and Auckland Park in 1946 .

Durham County Council launched a rescue plan aimed at saving the villages from economic decline.

However, some were seen to be beyond redemption and were left to die off with residents being housed in the new town of Newton Aycliffe nearby.

'Sadly, our staff, customers and vehicles are often on the receiving end of anti-social behaviour which means we have to temporarily pull our services and that's not fair on anyone. We should not have to ask people to stop behaving in a dangerous manner, but unfortunately we do.'.