SHOPPERS in Bishop Auckland will be treated to a taste of its Roman past when the town centre is revamped.

Millions of pounds are being invested in improving the heart of the market town to make it a more attractive and convenient place for people to visit.

Brightening up the Newgate Street area is one of four projects which make up a town centre strategy which will be unveiled today at an exhibition at the town hall library.

Designers have chosen a Roman theme for landscaping features because part of Newgate Street follows the Roman road called Dere Street, which led from York to Corbridge.

Money for the improvements is being provided from central government and local authority budgets, the Local Transport Plan and contributions from the private sector, including support from the Asda supermarket chain, which is building a store at Wilson's Forge.

A parking plan aims to make the town centre more car-friendly, with extra short-stay places for shoppers. The Asda development will create 400 extra spaces.

Property owners will be able to smarten up their buildings using money from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget.

A £1.2m community centre called the Four Clocks Project is another integral part of the strategy.

A wide range of organisations will use the three-storey centre, supported by Bishop Auckland Community Partnership at the former John Wesley Centre, in Newgate Street.

Public meetings were held to give local people the opportunity to help shape the strategy, which was approved by the Bishop Auckland Town Centre Forum in June.

Now Wear Valley District Council's director of regeneration, Bob Hope, hopes visitors to the exhibition will add their views.

He said: "The whole aim is to revitalise the centre of the town and make it a better place to live and work."

The exhibition runs until August 17 and there will be a collection box for comments. The library is open from 10am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays.