AN organisation that has championed local traders' causes for more than 50 years will continue after its members expressed their support.

With other groups like Durham City Forum becoming established, organisers of the Durham City Chamber of Trade began to doubt its usefulness to local businesses.

Despite its record for looking after traders' interests for more than 50 years, handling everything from crime to parking issues, they feared it was no longer relevant to modern companies.

To gauge people's opinions, the organisation sent out a questionnaire to traders across the city, asking what they thought of the chamber of trade, whether it should continue, and in what format.

Following a positive response from the questionnaire, the chamber decided at last week's annual general meeting that it would continue. It built up its committee to further strengthen its role.

A spokesman said: "There is a certain amount of overlapping since the city centre manager was appointed, and we thought it was time for a reassessment of the chamber's activity. The conclusion seems to be that our members want us to carry on.

"The chamber will continue, and there will be some effort to beef things up a bit, with an expanded committee."

Run by volunteers, the chamber belongs to several local groups including the Durham City Forum, and is supported by annual subscriptions from its 50 members.

One of its major concerns over the years has been crime, and it was instrumental in helping secure CCTV for the city centre around five years ago.

The chamber spokesman said it was the only organisation that catered exclusively for local traders.

He said: "The members felt they wanted a separate voice for traders in the city, and that's what we are."

City centre manager Chris Rawlinson said: "I'm delighted to hear that the chamber will continue. It has really good links and its a good link between us and smaller businesses.