CALLS are being made to improve the appearance of one of the busiest roads into Darlington or lose potential investors.

Concern has been expressed that the town's image is being spoiled by the state of parts of North Road.

The road, which used to be part of the Great North Road, has suffered in recent years because of a number of factors, including vandalism and shop closures.

North Road is one of the main roads into Darlington and there is concern that its appearance could deter people from visiting the town centre or put off potential investors.

Graham Robb, who runs a public relations firm in Darlington, said he recently drove along North Road with a prominent businessman, who commented about its poor appearance.

"If you come into Darlington from other areas, you drive past tree-lined streets and Victorian houses and get a very favourable impression," he said.

"But North Road is an indictment of everything which is bad about the town, and it really needs a lot of work."

Mr Robb believes a commitment should be made by a number of agencies, including Darlington Borough Council, Darlington Partnership and Railtrack, which owns the graffiti-covered railway bridge over North Road, to improve the area.

Councillor Margaret Thomas, whose Northgate North ward takes in part of North Road, said: "There have been a lot of improvements made to North Road, such as traffic calming measures, but there is still other work which needs to be done. As a local councillor I would welcome any improvements to this part of the town."

A Darlington council spokesman said the authority was aware of the problem.

"The council put in an unsuccessful bid for North Road to the Government's Single Regeneration Budget a couple of years ago," he said.

"We are aware that there are problems which need addressing and it something we continue to look into.