CHURCHES are joining forces to be at the forefront of efforts to boost employment hopes in a community recently devastated by job losses.

Leaders from churches in and around Spennymoor have vowed they will be a key partner in discussions about the future of the area.

At a meeting of local clergymen last week they vowed to work along the principles of The Northern Echo's Working for a Future campaign to bring hope to shattered communities.

Their town suffered a bitter blow when Black & Decker Spennymoor announced that 950 jobs would be lost by the end of 2003.

The Rev Martin Wray, of St David's Church, Tudhoe, said the churches are determined to do all they can to secure the future of the community by joining campaigns such as Working for a Future.

Speaking for the area's Roman Catholic, Methodist, Church of England and Salvation Army churches, Mr Wray said: "Together we represent all social and economic backgrounds in Spennymoor.

"We can offer moral support to people distressed over the job situation, but we don't just want to be a shoulder to cry on. We all want to be proactive in the regeneration of the community, by being involved at the highest levels of decision making with local and national government and agencies."

During the 1980s, when jobs dried up in industries such as shipbuilding, clergy were able to help many people find jobs, through encouragement, voluntary schemes and as representatives.

Mr Wray said: "Within the community clergy still have distinct leadership roles which people are happy to look towards.

"While the agencies are used to dealing with economics and multi-nationals we can deal directly with the human beings effected by this awful situation and represent their feelings and needs.

"We don't want the good jobs, which require skills and qualifications, to leave the area because younger generations will do the same and the whole community, built around business, could collapse."

The drive has already won the support of Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster.

Mr Wray said: "We will write to everyone possible to show how strongly we feel about the efforts that must be made for this area and a positive reaction from Mr Foster's is very encouraging."

* Anyone effected by the closure of Black & Decker is invited to a service held by all of the churches at Spennymoor Town Hall, on Sunday November 24, 6pm