A conference held in the region has sent out a stark warning to the voluntary and community sector.

The "third" sector, which delivers many valuable public services, has been told it needs to be highly organised and learn to 'stamp its feet' in order to be heard.

A senior academic told delegates at the Shaping the Future conference in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, that unless it did so the sector would be written out of the script when local government reorganisation is proposed.

Professor Gary Craig, the world's first Professor of Social Justice, from Hull University, said the voluntary and community sector in the county needed to educate local government for a proper role for itself so services to the vulnerable in communities were maintained.

He said: "This is a serious problem and a real cause for concern so the sector needs to get organised and have a strong voice."

The conference was organised by One Voice Network on behalf of the CVS Network for the county.