Bishop Auckland traders are being urged to support a major marketing drive steering shoppers back into its retail heart.

A new advertising strategy will be laid out before business bosses on Monday, at a meeting called by the town's MP Derek Foster.

Outline proposals from Durham marketing company Walker Hall Associates, have already been welcomed by the Bishop Auckland Town Centre Forum.

Now Mr Foster is hoping that traders will back the campaign and contribute to the cost, and even that community groups will help with fundraising.

He said: "This is a very exciting opportunity for Bishop Auckland. I hope the traders will give their support and we can embark on a marketing drive that will fire the imagination of the whole town. What we are talking about is advertising in newspapers, on local radio and on buses to bring in shoppers from a wide area.

"I am hoping businesses large and small, community organisations, churches and other community groups will get behind it and make it possible.

"We want to get over the message that Bishop Auckland is a good place to shop.

"We already have more national chain shop frontage than there is in the MetroCentre.

"I find that absolutely staggering. It shows the wide range of shops we have to offer.

"To add to that it is my ambition to extend the number and range of individual shops because that it how we can re-energise the town centre."

New town centre manager Derek Toon is being introduced to traders at the meeting in the Queen's Head at 6pm on Monday. An update on parking is also on the agenda.

Major retailer Marks and Spencer demonstrated its commitment to Bishop Auckland this week by announcing a £120,000 investment programme for its Newgate Street store.

The revamp starts on September 22 and will enable the store to stock a wider food range, improve fitting rooms and collect-by-car parking, open a wine shop and sell more flowers, plants and gifts.

Manager Lynne Crawford said: "This investment really highlights our commitment to Bishop Auckland."