Leading figures from politics, business support and regeneration agencies have vowed to devote themselves to the regeneration of a recession hit area.

Wear Valley District Council organised a jobs summit, held at Auckland Castle yesterday, to discuss ways of re-invigorating the economy in the South of County Durham.

The move came after last month's announcement that clothing manufacturer Sara Lee Courtaulds could close its plant at Tindale Crescent, near Bishop Auckland.

The closure would see 340 workers lose their jobs, taking the number of job losses in the district to 822 since January last year.

The district council gave a presentation on the area's ailing economy and a list of schemes that could lead to recovery.

It called for:

* Tier One Assisted Area status for the district,

* Enterprise zone status for all or selected sites,

* A transport strategy, including investment in the road network and the re-opening of Weardale Heritage Railway line,

* Accelerated investment in the business infrastructure including upgrades to industrial premises, new quality business premises and complete broadband access,

* Implementation of schemes such as the Eastgate Renewable Energy Project,

* An Action Team for jobs

* New ways to tackle basic skills training,

* A rural bureau to streamline business support, and

* Continuing flow of external funding on top of existing grants.

Iain Phillips, chief executive of Wear Valley District Council, said: "The people of Wear Valley should feel the benefits of being part of the fourth largest economy in the world and have a right to a future, which is increasingly moving outside Wear Valley."

The other organisations present, including One NorthEast, Government Office North East, Durham County Council and County Durham Development Company pledged to drive the measures forward.