A SCHEME to encourage dales people to shop locally has been launched in Weardale.

Miss Hilary Armstrong, Local Government Minister and MP for North-West Durham, officially began the Stanhope and Weardale Co-operative Society Local Food Link initiative last Friday.

It involves local farmers supplying their meat and other produce to the society's five shops in the dale. The idea is that it gives them a ready local market and will attract local people and visitors to buy from local stores rather than from supermarkets further afield.

The initiative follows a study which raised concern about the fragile local economy and the danger from people shopping outside the dale.

Miss Armstrong was delighted the initiative had taken off.

"I had ideas about this sort of thing 15 years ago when we first planned the Dales centre," she said. "But maybe it takes a crisis for people to actually recognise the quality of what is produced in Weardale, which gives it an edge.

"If people do know there are real quality products available, they will go for them. I am really excited about this happening."

Miss Armstrong launched the initiative at the independent society's store in Stanhope.

She said County Durham had historically been famous for the quality of its livestock, particularly its beef animals. "It is in finding that quality again, and having the confidence in what is produced in Weardale, that makes me believe this venture will really take off."

It was vital for people in rural areas to support local shops and services. "We must remember that, unless we use the local services, they will not be here," she said.

Mr William Craig, retail manager for the society's five shops in Stanhope, Frosterley, Westgate, St John's Chapel and Wearhead, said they had always served some local produce.

"But we thought why not emphasise the fact that it is local," he said. "The farmers have been having a pretty rough time of it and we have had our own concerns but already more people have been coming in asking when the scheme was starting."

The initiative has been co-ordinated by Mrs Ann Emmerson, who farms cattle and sheep with her husband, John, at Willow Green, Frosterley. She was appointed by a range of agencies and wrote to 140 farmers, receiving 40 replies from those interested in the initiative or who had something to offer.

"This list has gone to the butcher who supplies the society and is also going to other retail outlets in the dale; we want them to be involved as well," she said.

The initiative stemmed from Durham Rural Community Council's annual survey on shops and post offices in the county. In recent years it has raised concern about their future, particularly about those in Weardale.

Talks were held with the co-operative society and funding for the initiative was obtained from the North Pennines Leader Programme, the North Pennines Partnership and County Dur-ham's Local Agenda 21.

The Countryside Agency also contributed and Mr Keith Buchanan, regional director, attended the launch.

He said the North Pennines area of outstanding natural beauty was one of the finest landscapes. "It has a very strong character and distinction which is a tremendous marketing strength when it comes to speciality foods," he said.

"It is good for local retailers, producers and local wildlife and is attractive to tourists. If we put all that together, we have sustainability.