TRADERS in a city's "forgotten" street are calling for improved signs to point shoppers in their direction.

Businesses in the Claypath area of Durham recently formed an association to develop ideas to improve trade.

Despite being only a short distance from the Market Place in the centre of the city, the street has suffered a decline since the development of the A690 through road in the 1960s, according to traders.

They say the road created a barrier that keeps people away.

Recent developments, including the building of the Gala Theatre and adjoining Clayport Library at the lower end of the street, should have helped to put Claypath back on the map.

But traders say that not enough visitors to the city are made aware of the street's existence.

Colin Wilkes, manager of the city's indoor market, who also runs The Food Shop in Claypath, said better signs would help attract people.

He said: "It's amazing that you still hear of visitors in other parts of the city centre asking for directions to the Gala Theatre, not knowing the whereabouts of Claypath.

"Since the through road was put in, there's been an almost psychological barrier separating Claypath from the rest of the city centre.

"Yet it's so close and something as simple as some new, more visible signs would help to pinpoint the street.

"Even a sign pointing in our direction for people leaving the Prince Bishops Centre car park would be an improvement."

The Claypath streetscape had improved over recent years but not enough people were aware of the changes.

Mr Wilkes said: "Apart from the development of the Gala and Clayport, there's been a lot of private landlord investment and the quality of shops has improved tremendously.

"It's no longer just a backwater. There are some very attractive premises."

Apart from the signs, the Claypath traders have made approaches for grant funding for Christmas decorations.

They are creating a leaflet to highlight businesses in the street and seeking to close off the lower end of the road to traffic to allow amusements to operate on the Sunday of Durham's Summer Festival weekend, on July 4.

The group is approaching the city council with its request for better signs.