BRITAIN'S biggest nerd could be used to promote a job-starved North-East dale in the wake of a cement works closure.

An unpublished consultant's report drawn up for a task force looking for ways of reviving beautiful Weardale, in County Durham, refers to its links with Rowan Atkinson's comic character, the hapless Mr Bean.

Rubberfaced Atkinson grew up in Consett, in Derwentside, and went to Durham Choristers preparatory school, 30 miles from the doomed Lafarge Blue Circle works at Eastgate, where 150 jobs are being lost.

The character that has made him millions is unlikely to raise a laugh in Weardale, where the task force is being criticised for reacting too slowly to January's closure announcement.

Parish councillors and traders have already slammed London consultants GHK for not consulting widely enough before reporting back to the task force, led by Government agency One NorthEast.

John Shuttleworth, the dale's Durham county councillor, claims some of the report's contents are "pie in the sky" and has asked for an urgent meeting with One NorthEast chairman Dr John Bridge.

He said: "I understand the report makes reference to Weardale having 235 species of daffodils and being close to the home of Mr Bean's school, which I find quite astonishing. Wear-dale people will be insulted."

A planned series of roadshows putting ideas to Weardale communities may not start until September, nearly a month after the works shut down on August 9.

More than 40 Lafarge employees have accepted jobs out of the area, raising fears for the future of schools, shops, churches and other community activities.

Durham County Council chief executive Kingsley Smith has revealed that part of the doomed plant could be turned into an indoor ski slope, with real snow.