BUSINESSES concerned about their futures after their premises were sold have been told they have nothing to worry about.

The businesses renting 27 units in Whessoe Road, Darlington, were informed of Darlington Enterprise Association's intention to sell the buildings as one property two months ago.

They were keen to stay in the units, where some have been for 15 years, and to prevent any increase in their rents, 13 of the traders formed a syndicate and offered to buy the property for £750,000.

Last week they were informed their bid had been unsuccessful.

Stephen Booth, of BGB Motorcycle Clothing, in unit eight, said he was concerned that his company and others could be forced to find alternative accommodation.

"We don't know who it is that has bought the premises, only that we have been told it is a big developer. For all we know they could be thinking of developing it into flats," he said.

"They only have to give us three months notice to leave, or alternatively they might want to increase the rents, either way it is bad for the businesses. I will be looking for somewhere else.

"These units were there to help small businesses, so when we all got together to form this syndicate you would have thought they would give us first refusal."

But Brian Coady, of Darlington Enterprise Association, said the units had been sold to a commercial property consortium that offered a considerably higher sum than the syndicate had offered to pay.

He would not discuss the consortium's name or the sums involved, because the deal was still to be completed, but reassured businesses they had nothing to fear.

"It has been bought with a view to continuing having businesses in there. We are keen those businesses continue to do well -it would not be in the interests of a purchaser for them not to be there," he said.

Mr Coady said the premises would not be turned into housing, adding: "They have bought it as an investment."

He said although Darlington Enterprise Association had a role to help businesses, it also had to look after its own development, with money from the sale of the site being ploughed back into the organisation's work.