PEOPLE from all over the world are logging on to a town's website to keep in touch with their roots.

Since the Shildon Net Forum was re-launched in February, more than 1100 people have visited the site to share memories.

People from as far away as China, Mexico and New Zealand have been logging on to the forum, which is run by volunteers.

Colin Devonport, who runs Shildon Net as a business, set up the forum last year, but abandoned it after people were leaving nuisance messages on the site.

He said: "I was asked to set it up again and with the help of Ken Bibby, who used to live in Shildon, we started it again in February.

"People have to register as members before leaving messages on the forum, which means we can monitor it more closely.

"This is a purely voluntary site and it is up and running because people asked for it.''

Visitors to the site are invited to comment on every day topics as well as events specifically for Shildon, such as the opening of the new £10m railway museum.

Mr Devenport said that he would love to see more people placing photographs of Shildon's past on the site and sharing memories.

Shildon Net also offers free services to voluntary and community groups who may want to set up their own website. Mr Devenport said: "We offer free design services and certain free services to non-profit organisations. We do not receive money or grants to do this."

For more information contact www.shildon.net