TRADERS are looking to create a community forum to help boost a town's image as it prepares for the opening of a new National Railway Museum.

Businesses in Shildon believe that the new £10m museum, that has been named Locomotion, could be the key to putting the town on the map.

A host of railway-themed events have already been planned by Shildon Chamber of Trade to coincide with the opening of the museum in September and it is hoping to join forces with the town's Pubwatch, the town council and community groups to create the forum.

Butcher Brian Stoker, who is chairman of the town's chamber of trade, said: "We need to take this opportunity to breathe new life into the town. It is fair to say that shops in the town have suffered as the result of out of town shopping but things are looking positive.

"We have had some interest in the empty shops in the town centre and we need to act now. We are all going to get something out of this so we cannot just sit back and just let it happen. It would be a missed opportunity.''

Mr Stoker, who is also a town councillor, said that the traders are very keen on the idea of a community forum but it is something that is still very much in its early stages. Mr Stoker said: "We have spoken to Pubwatch and their members seem keen. We will just have to wait and see.''

Adrian Rowland, secretary of Pubwatch and landlord of The Royal George, said he would back anything that would help the town.

He said: "As far as I am concerned anything like this is a good idea as long as it helps all the businesses in the town. We are all in the same trade and we need to help each other.''

The Locomotion will house 60 exhibits from the National Railway Museum's collection, as well as one of the world's greatest railway treasures, the original Sans Pareil, built by Timothy Hackworth in 1829. Locomotion is expected to attract 60,000 visitors a year.