Gary Shears, Easington Council's countryside officer, said: "All three sites provide extensive opportunities for community volunteering and school educational events and investment could help us further improve public access, conserve the natural environment and attract new wildlife."

Gore Burn includes woodlands, grazing fields and about one mile of watercourse, however access is currently limited to a single footpath and a section of reclaimed mineral line known as the Miner's Heritage Trail.

Although located in the centre of Seaham, the steep-sided Rockhouse Dene offers a mixture of woodland, grassland and streamside wildlife habitats.

It offers significant potential for educational and recreational use within easy reach of residential areas.

Crimdon Dene is a large site containing ancient semi-natural woodlands, recreational grasslands and part of the Crimdon Burn stream.

The move to name the sites as LNRs has been backed by Natural England.