THE future of transport and travel in Darlington is the focus of a conference starting today.

The town is one of only three in the country to have been chosen by the Department for Transport to pilot a scheme encouraging people to consider alternative transport to the car.

The borough council received £3.2m from the Government to cut traffic congestion and to promote public transport, cycling, walking and car-sharing over the next four years.

The Town on the Move scheme is the focus of the first two days of a transport summit at the Dolphin Centre.

On Thursday, Darlington will host the first of three national transport summits.

Residents have been invited to today's session, including business owners and young parents with children at SureStart nurseries. Organisers will be building up a picture of travel habits and attitudes to transport, using the results of a questionnaire carried out last year.

Transport policy officer Owen Wilson said: "We'll use the information to see how we can encourage people not to use the car as their first choice."

Company of Cyclists will be displaying a variety of bicycles in the Market Square this morning.