TRADERS in Ferryhill have joined forces in an effort to secure the future of the town centre.

The first Ferryhill Traders' Forum has been formed to help attract funding to improve the town's facilities and encourage more visitors and shoppers.

The group, identified as a priority in the town appraisal, attracted strong support at its first meeting.

Members have already discussed a number of measures which could prevent a decline in the town centre and a questionnaire is to be sent to all traders in the town to draw up a list of desirable projects.

Jamie Corrigan, executive officer of Ferryhill Town Council, said the forum was vital for the future of the town.

He said: "If we don't try to encourage people to come in to keep the town centre vibrant it will die, because it has happened elsewhere.

"It was a pleasant surprise to see how enthusiastic everybody was at the first meeting.

"We will now circulate a copy of the questionnaire to all the traders in Ferryhill town centre, trying to get as many people as possible to contribute to the projects."

Ideas which were put forward at the first meeting included building new public lavatories, expanding closed-circuit TV security coverage, introducing a disc system for car parking and improved street cleaning.

Champion butcher John Allison, who has been elected chairman, believes the group will eventually double in size.

He said: "I think it is going to get a lot more support because there were a lot of traders who couldn't get to the meeting. We have done this to get people a good shopping place in Ferryhill. It is already a nice little market which is one of the best in the county."

He said a strong group would help in applying for grants.

"If we act together we can get grants to improve the town centre," he said.

"For a first meeting we covered a lot of ground and we have got a good platform to work from. We have got a good town centre and we have to push it to make it a place people want to visit."