RESIDENTS are being invited to have their say on the future of their village bus shelters.

Hartlepool Borough Council is sending questionnaires to every home in Hart Village to help it decide whether two shelters in Front Street should be demolished or retained.

Some people feel the shelters attract gangs of young people who cause a nuisance, while others believe they provide valuable cover to travellers waiting for buses.

The police, the bus company and the local parish council are also being asked for their views on the issue.

A council spokesman said: "Whatever decision is made about the bus shelters, the buses will still stop where they do now."

The villagers are being asked to answer four simple questions and make any other comments about the shelters. They are also being invited to make suggestions for dealing with the problems associated with them.

Completed questionnaires should be returned in the free- post envelope provided by August 25.

It is intended to hold a meeting of the council's regeneration board in the village before the next full council meeting on September 14, although a date has still to be fixed, to discuss the results of the consultation exercise.

The spokesman said: "The council wants to ensure all villagers have a chance to make their views known before a final decision is taken on the future of the bus shelters.

"We would urge as many people as possible to return the questionnaires before the deadline.