IMAGINATIVE new websites promoting a Teesside town have been launched.

The websites, called the Community Portal and Digital Hartlepool, were unveiled in Hartlepool last week.

The Community Portal, which is also known as Hartlepoolnow, will go live this week.

Hartlepool Partnership, which is chaired by the town's MP, Peter Mandelson, was the driving force behind the new websites.

The sites will contain information about all aspects of Hartlepool life, from shopping to history and finding somewhere to stay.

The other website, Digital Hartlepool, is dedicated to promoting the town through photographic and digital images of Hartlepool.

From Friday, it will include live images on strategically placed cameras at Hartlepool Marina, Historic Quay and Hartlepool College roof.

Funding for the websites has come from the Government and development agency One NorthEast.

Tony Sutcliffe, principal of Hartlepool College and chairman of Hartlepool Partnership ICT strategy group, is a key supporter of the project. He said: "The idea is to create a family of integrated websites that are fully indexed, accessible, attract a high level of community contribution and positively promote the town locally, regionally and globally."

Both websites, which are linked to other Internet pages, can be accessed on www.hartlepoolnow. co.uk