Efforts by a North-East city to shed its "beautiful but boring" tag moved a step forward today with the launch of a massive public consultation exercise.

Over the next eight weeks, thousands of visitors, students, commuters and traders will be asked their views on the future of Durham City - and which of its eyesores should be bulldozed.

Moves to elevate Durham into the big league of British tourist cities alongside the likes of York, Bath and Chester are being drawn up by consultants, who have been working for the last 12 months on what they are calling the 2020 Vision for Durham.

Despite possessing World Heritage Status, the most famous skyline in the region and a tourist economy worth £100m a year, the 1,000-year-old city relies almost exclusively on its castle and cathedral to attract visitors.

Now a number of bodies - including the city and county councils, Dean and Chapter, University and OneNorthEast - are drawing up a 20-year masterplan to improve the city's tourist image.

County Councillor Brian Walker said: "Durham has a reputation as a beautiful but boring city.

"If you compare Durham with York, Chester or Bath from a tourist point of view, we're not in the same league, and we need to be."

City council leader Cllr Fraser Reynolds, added: "Some have said that mistakes have been made in the past but we don't want to get stuck in the past we want to look to the future."

Consultants are expected to reveal concrete proposals in September, but are first asking the public for their views - in particular on which areas should be redeveloped.

A 50-strong residents' panel have given their views and have highlighted a number of blackspots including the former Ice Rink, now the subject of a proposed £20m housing redevelopment, North Road and its bus station, the city's railway station, 1960s office block Millburngate House and the nearby shopping centre of the same name, as well as the bottom of Claypath.

Although there are thought to be a number of ideas under consideration - including greater use of the riverbanks which loop around the cathedral peninsula, a new footbridge linking Fowlers Yard to the Millburngate Shopping Centre and low rent retail starter units to generate more specialist shopping - consultants insist the public's view will shape the process.

Exhibitions and public meetings will be held around the city, leaflets will be sent out over the coming weeks and a website is now up and running. The project will also examine issues such as poor variety of shops, available entertainment and lack of leisure provision.