A TRADER'S association which looked set to fold was saved this week following a successful crisis meeting.

Bishop Auckland Business and Traders' Association held a special general meeting on Monday after warning that it would fold if more members were not found.

Before the meeting they had just 21 members and needed 30 in order to maintain a representative voice on behalf of local businesses.

But there was an encouraging swell in membership at the meeting, in the town's Four Clocks Centre, and the association will now continue.

Paul Wilson, acting chairman of the group, said: "We now have 35 members. It means the organisation is going to continue.

"We also have quite a lot of people who have said they were going to join if the group did keep on going, so I'm quite confident we will soon have 45 or 50 members. He said some people had read in the local press that the group could fold, and so turned out.

"We've got an organisation that is now safe, but is always looking for new members," he added.

The next meeting of the group's steering committee will take place on June 29.

Membership of the association costs £20.