CAMPAIGNERS are calling for a bus interchange to improve safety in Darlington town centre.

Members of Growing Older Living in Darlington (Gold) have formed a group to press for the facility, which they say the town desperately needs.

"I think it is pretty disappointing that in the 21st Century, Darlington, the birthplace of the first passenger railway, has not got better facilities," said Gold spokesman Christopher Hawkes. "The current situation is that the town has no facilities."

He said that the lack of a central bus station made main roads in the town centre dangerous for pedestrians.

"High Row has been unofficially turned into the bus station," he said. "There and in other places in town you can have buses parked two abreast. It can be incredibly dangerous for people to cross the road. In our eyes, it is not working."

He said public transport users endured long waits at night and lengthy walks between stops if they were changing buses.

"If you are somebody waiting for a bus or a long distance coach at night you have got to cross the market square and if you need the toilet you have to use the Dolphin Centre. It is simply not acceptable."

The group wants the old cattle market site at Clifton Road to be used.

"It is a wonderful site," said Mr Hawkes. "It is located centrally and then you have the railway just across the way."

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said the authority would be happy to discuss the proposals with the group.

"We will look at anything they have got to say.

"A representative from Gold has already spoken to our transport forum and we are looking to meet with the group again."

Three bus companies, Arriva, Stagecoach and Go-Ahead Northern, operate services in the town.

Iain McInroy, Arriva North East operations director, said the company would be happy to take part in consultation.

But he said: "While we welcome any initiatives that would benefit bus customers, we believe the old cattle market site is too far outside the town centre to be a suitable interchange site."