DISCUSSIONS are to continue as to whether a town should form a community partnership.

Volunteer groups and residents who attended a public meeting in the Civic Centre, Shildon yesterday said they wanted to further explore the idea of setting up a community partnership before making a final decision.

The meeting was the second of two public gatherings called after traders and the town's Pubwatch announced they wanted to see some sort of partnership to help move the town forward as it waited for the opening of a new multi-million pound railway museum.

But some residents remain sceptical about the idea.

Former councillor Walter Nunn said: "I want to see further discussions before we go into something that we do not know much about.''

Councillor John Smith said that he felt that having a community partnership was the way forward for the town and would provide opportunities to bring more money in.

He said: "Virtually every other town and village in County Durham has a partnership and if we don't have one we will miss out on money that is available.''

It was agreed that the meeting be adjourned, pending a report from Sedgefield Borough Council, which has explored the future of the existing Shildon Partnership before making any further decisions.