An emergency jobs summit will be held tomorrow in a bid to stop the axe falling on more jobs in part of County Durham.

Key figures will meet to try and find a way to turn around the fortunes of Wear Valley's economy which has suffered a series of blows in the past 12 months.

Wear Valley District Council called the meeting when one of the area's major employers announced it faces closure later this year, further compounding an already serious situation.

Clothing manufacturer Sara Lee Courtaulds warned staff last month that the plant at Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland, could close in October with the loss of 340 jobs.

The devastating news came on the back of major job losses including the closure of Ohmega Electronics, in Bishop Auckland, J Barbour and Sons, Crook, and LaFarge UK's cement works, in Eastgate.

Representatives from stakeholders including Durham County Council, One NorthEast, Government Office North East, Employment Service and local businesses will hold a debate on the problems and all possible solutions.

Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, will also attend the event which is being supported through the newspaper's Working for a Future campaign.

The campaign was launched in October to call for more aid to the region and to promote the many positives which make it an attractive, vibrant location for business.

MP Nick Brown, minister for work, will chair the summit which is to be held at Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland.

The once-mighty industries, such as textiles and manufacturing, are in decline so the agencies will look at ways for the district to triumph over the pressures of national and international economic forces.

Leader of Wear Valley District Council, Coun Olive Brown, hopes the event will benefit the short and long term future of the district.

She said: "The Council will do everything it can to help reverse this trend and bring forward sustainable employment opportunities for the residents of Wear Valley.

"The jobs summit will be a good stepping stone to help us identify the problems and look at the ways that these can be addressed."