DURHAM County Council is tackling social exclusion and getting people into jobs by improving transport links.

The council was named yesterday as one of ten local authorities nationally to be nominated as Transport Shared Priority Pathfinders.

Durham is piloting a Pathfinder project aiming to improve access to jobs and services through links with Sedgefield Local Strategic Partnership and Groundwork East Durham.

It will identify gaps in transport provision and fill them.

Area transport plans are being developed at the same time as the Local Transport Plan for County Durham, which runs from 2006 to 2011.

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, Durham's cabinet member for the environment, said: "The Pathfinder designation recognises our expertise in handling the two priorities of improved access and improved public transport, and our work in these areas will provide a lead for others nationally to follow.

"I'm very pleased that we are tackling the issue of social inclusion head on. In many parts of the country, people still can't access the services they need because of poor or non-existent transport links.

"This project will identify the gaps and try to fill them by integrating and developing local community transport, demand-responsive buses and commercial bus services."