DALES traders are fighting back from heavy job losses by backing an official guide aimed at promoting the area and its beauty.

The Official Guide for Weardale Rural District has been released this week more than 30 years after the last booklet was circulated in the area.

Coun John Shuttleworth, who represents the Dales, said he has harboured ambitions to re-release the booklet for some time.

He said: "I have wanted to do this for a couple of years now and I approached Wilf Hume, who was involved in the creation of the original guide, to see if he had any objections to it being re-printed and he gave it his blessing.''

The idea was made a reality thanks to a £1,500 grant from the Countryside Agency and the overwhelming support shown by businesses and traders throughout the Dales. It has also been backed by Tyne Tees Television.

Coun Shuttleworth said: "We were originally going to print 3,000 copies but so many people advertised we were able to print 5,000.

"It is something positive about the area promoting local businesses with a bit of history in the middle. All of the photographs are from the past.''

The guide will be made available to people living in the Dale and visitors free of charge.

It is already on the counters at Co-op stores throughout the Dales and other small businesses and newsagents.

Mr Hume, who is now 90, was clerk to Weardale Rural District Council for 17 years before the district disappeared in the local government re-organisation in 1974.

He said: "We usually updated it every four or five years but obviously we never updated it after 1971 because the council ceased to exist.

"When John came to me with the idea of re-producing it I gave it my blessing. He has put an awful lot of work into it and people appreciate what he has done.

"I am very happy to have been associated with it and I like it very much. I have already had compliments paid by people who have enjoyed reading it already.''