PEOPLE in Stanley have taken a big step forward in their campaign for a town council.

The steering group behind the campaign collected 1,325 signatures from shoppers at Asda on Saturday.

The number of names collected is now 2,400, only 100 short of the ten per cent of the town's electorate needed to petition for the new authority.

With signature sheets out in the community yet to be returned, the steering group is confident it will soon have the level of support it needs.

Before local government re-organisation, in 1974, Stanley had its own district council, but since then it has been governed by Derwentside District Council.

Residents say the authority, based in Consett, has given the town a raw deal and that it has not had the investment that Consett has had - even though a swimming pool has recently been opened in its leisure centre and there are plans for a £16m bus station redevelopment.

The campaigners, who are backed by North Durham Labour MP Kevan Jones, said a town council would give Stanley a stronger voice and would be able to improve local facilities such as parks and play areas.

Steering group chairman Derrick Little, Derwentside councillor for the town's Havannah ward, said: "We are delighted with the response, but we didn't think that it would be any other.

"We are nearly there. There are petition sheets that have yet to come in. We'll have another signing session.

"When we have 25,000 we will present the petition to Derwentside council. That will be in the next two or three months, I would think, and then it goes to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for his approval.''

Steering group acting secretary Edna Hunter, Durham County councillor for the Tanfield division, said: "The feedback we are getting is that Stanley needs its own voice.''