TRIALS were carried out yesterday to see how buses would manage if a town centre was pedestrianised.

Police traffic cones were positioned to prevent cars parking in Crown Street, in Darlington, to enable urban design consultants to look at how easily buses could use the street and what impact it would have on traffic flow.

Gillespies, the urban design firm chosen by Darlington Borough Council to lead a team of consultants to draw up plans for the "pedestrian heart" of the town, was carrying out the work with bus companies Stagecoach and Arriva.

A council spokesman said that a bus and a driver from each company was used to see if the proposals for the town centre would work in practice.

"They have a computer programme, a simulation, which shows how it should work in theory, this is to look and double check that it actually works on the ground, looking at the pinch-points, the narrowest parts of the road," she said. "An outline proposal will be presented to the council by December, with detailed designs expected to be completed by June next year."

She added: "It's a huge project which will transform the whole look and feel of the town."

The police, public transport, local retailers, the Chamber of Trade, disabled access groups and other interested parties will be consulted about the scheme.

The plans include banning buses and taxis from Prospect Place, the south of Northgate, High Row and Skinnergate, leaving the central area exclusively for shoppers.