A TASK force chief has challenged Weardale people to think up ideas to replace jobs lost through a cement works closure.

Dr John Bridge, chairman of development agency One NorthEast, is leading a group trying to revive the Weardale economy after Lafarge UK shut its Eastgate plant.

He met Stanhope parish councillors this week, and told them: "If you can start to come up with ideas, I am more than happy to promote them at the very highest level of government.

"We want to work with people in the dale and try to produce some sustainable solutions for the future.

"The main thing is to find a project and find a site for it. We are prepared to put the resources in, as long as the ideas come forward."

Leaflets outlining a series of broad proposals for Weardale are being distributed this week. Consultation meetings on the ideas will be held over the next three months.

Parish council members said local people wanted incentives for business so that Weardale remained a working dale.

Councillor Harry Irwin said: "We need a manufacturing industry in the dale if we want to secure the dale for future generations. Tourism pays minimum wages and is seasonal."

Councillor Harry Mews said: "It is important to have affordable factory units available for small businesses that want to set up or expand. We must keep jobs. I believe the cement works should stay an industrial site. There are very few facilities for small businesses in the dale."

One idea proposed by the task force is to create a rural businesses bureau at the Durham Dales Centre, in Stanhope.

Other suggestions include increasing the land and property available to businesses, supporting shops, pubs and community facilities, promoting local produce, encouraging farmers to diversify and supporting a North Pennines centre for alternative agricultural technology.

Flagship projects would include reopening the Weardale Railway, a broadband ICT network, a centre for renewable energy on the cement works site and major industrial and housing developments on surplus land at Wolsingham Steelworks.

Leaflets on the ideas are available in shops, libraries and from community groups.