A TOWN'S chamber of trade has been forced to disband after failing to attract new members.

Shildon Chamber of Trade meets for the final time in July after members agreed to wind up the organisation.

Chairman Brian Stoker said the decision had been taken with great sadness but there were not enough people to keep up the work.

He said: "We only had around nine members and it was the same people doing all the work. Businesses in the town would always support us when we went around to collect for charity events but we could never find anyone who could spare the time to come along and help."

The decision comes at a time when the town is coming under the media spotlight following the opening of Locomotion: National Railway Museum.

Mr Stoker said: "Now is the time when we should be jumping on the back of the museum and doing things to promote the town but those of us who are left feel we cannot do it anymore.

"We all have businesses to run at the end of the day and I am on the town council. We cannot do everything.''

Over the years the chamber of trade has played an active role in many events in the town including the annual carnival in June and charity fundraisers, such as Children In Need.

Mr Stoker said: "Those of us who have taken part in things such as the carnival and the choosing of the carnival queen will continue to help with those events but this will be under the banner of the carnival committee.''

Meanwhile, Bishop Auckland traders have been given a deadline of June 6 to register an interest in their own Business and Traders' Association.

Chairman Paul Wilson said that the group had 20 members but needed at least 30 to take it forward. He said: "We had a meeting on Monday night and four people, who had never been involved, turned up to express an interest.

"We decided to defer a decision on the future until June 6 to give more businesses the chance to come forward."