A TOWN council has drawn up advice for residents on how to compile an effective petition.

Ferryhill Town Council hopes the guidelines will help groups and members of the public to demonstrate a clear view of local opinion.

Questionnaires should now include a clear statement on the nature of the petition, a declaration by the organisers that no one was pressurised to sign, details of signatories and a maximum four-week collection period.

Petitions meeting the new criteria will not automatically lead to a change in council actions or policy, but will be considered a legitimate form of consultation.

Invalid petitions will not be totally disregarded, but are likely to carry less weight.

Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears MP recently announced plans for new rules on how statutory bodies could react to petitions.

She said authorities could be forced to consider petitions that follow a specified outline.