THE elderly have come out on top after Teesdale residents voted for their funding priorities.

Nearly half of the 291 votes case as part of the Teesdale Action Partnership’s (TAP) annual survey backed the Older People category, which received 136 votes.

Environment and Heritage followed with 124 votes and Transport and traffic came third with 118 votes while In fourth place was Jobs, enterprise and training, which received 114 votes.

Children and Young People, a current TAP priority, came fifth with 100 votes.

Other categories to receive votes were Community Safety, Supporting community organisations, IT and Technology and Tourism.

Tackling economic hardship came last with just 31 votes.

The results will be taken into consideration at the next board meeting

TAP coordinator, Craig Morgan, said: “We have tried some different approaches over the past couple of years to make sure that as many people as possible get a chance to vote on what they think is important for the Teesdale area.

He added: “The vote forms part of the information that our Board will consider when making a decision on what our priorities will be for the next financial year. Other information such as comments made by local people at the forum and information we received at an event we attended at Teesdale School will also be used to help our members make an informed choice”.

For more information call TAP on 03000-260817.