THE next stage of an initiative to reduce the number of suicides in Darlington and County Durham has been set out.

Darlington, once called the suicide capital of the country, is still falling short of a Government target to reduce the number of people who take their own lives.

This latest stage will examine ways of preventing people taking their own lives.

The plan will see more campaigns targeting at-risk groups and work to improve some of the North-East most notorious suicide spots.

The action plan, which will be discussed by Darlington Borough Council's social affairs and health scrutiny committee on Tuesday, lists achievements to date.

Health workers have made contact with the rail industry and hope to introduce safety measures at suicide hotspots.

Letters have also been sent to every GP in Darlington and County Durham, recommending a reduction in the prescribing of some medication that is toxic if an overdose is taken.

Over the next few years, health bosses at the Darlington and County Durham Priority Services NHS Trust will debate the benefits of school and college counsellors, work with pharmacies and put more signposts at suicide hotspots.

Nationally, the Government has set councils the target of reducing suicide rates by 20 per cent.

The latest figures show Darlington is making good progress, but work still needs to be done before the target date of 2010.

Every year, about 12 people take their own lives in Darlington, which has a population of 100,000, compared with a national average of ten per 100,000.