HEALTH officials want to use the electronic scoreboard at Darlington's new football stadium to get messages across to the public.

The idea, to flash up information on health issues at half-time, was discussed at a meeting between Darlington Primary Care Trust and community groups on the best way to involve ordinary people in the health service.

Other ideas to find out people's views included cold calling and targeting them at supermarkets, libraries pubs and churches as well as having a freephone at doctors' surgeries.

The trust plans to circulate the ideas via the town's community groups, get feedback and then draft a plan to improve the system.

Non-executive director Tom Stebbings said: "The idea was to have a brainstorming session on how the trust could involve the public. In the past we have concerned ourselves with pressure and interest groups but now we want to reach the public as a whole."