A PLAN has been unveiled to regenerate a seaside resort described as "rundown" by a council officer.

The five-year Seaton Carew Tourism Strategy was published by Hartlepool Borough Council yesterday after extensive public consultations.

However no money has yet been earmarked to regenerate Seaton Carew despite millions having been spent on the nearby Hartlepool Marina in recent years.

The blueprint identifies eight themes to improve the small seaside town which has a population of more than 6,000 and an above national-average male unemployment rate of 7.5 per cent.

They are:

* raise beach standards.

* Improve accessibility.

* Encourage new attractions.

* Enhance the environment.

* Improve the image of the town.

* Encourage new events and activities.

* Support businesses.

* Improve visitor accommodation.

Nicola Foreman, senior regeneration officer at Hartlepool Council, said plans to attract Government investment into Seaton Carew would continue. She confirmed that plans to create gelataria - an ice-cream centre - were being discussed by the council.

She said: "This is a flexible reference document which provides a strategy for improvement.

"Seaton Carew has become rundown and one of the reasons was the ad-hoc development of the resort.

"In future we will have an organised strategy. We can't be specific yet on what new attractions might be because we must remain flexible. We have to be able to listen to what potential developers might want to do."

Mayor of Hartlepool, Stuart Drummond, welcomed the blueprint.

He said: "There is much to enjoy in Seaton Carew, the promenade, the beach, amusements, fish and chips: all the traditional offerings of a British seaside resort and the enhancement and expansion of this is essential.

"High quality and balanced development is the key to getting it right."

More specific proposals outlined in the blueprint include improving links to Hartlepool marina and town centre via a shuttle bus; creating a car park for visitors in Coronation Drive; development of the former fairground site and coach park; and the re-introduction of lifeguards.

The lack of coastguards on Seaton Carew beach has been widely criticised since eight-year-old boy Jordan Moon died in the sea there last year.