THE closure of a town's swimming pool has sparked calls for a rates strike by angry traders.

Members of Shildon Chamber of Trade are calling for drastic action after Durham County Council announced that the town's learner pool will close.

Chairman of the Chamber of Trade, Brian Stoker, said that the proposed closure was the final straw for the community, which was reeling from the closure of the town's residential nursing home, Hackworth House.

He said: "We pay the highest council tax in the county yet they are shutting down the old people's home and now they are taking away the kids swimming pool.''

Mr Stoker said at a recent meeting his fellow traders said they felt they should withhold their business rates in protest against the closures.

They are now rallying support from the community for their protest, and are about to call a public meeting in a bid to save the pool at Shildon County Primary School.

Mr Stoker was a member of a liaison committee which was holding talks to try to persuade Durham County Council to think again, but said he now felt that the talks had been a waste of time.

He said: "We have already had members of the community come to us saying they will back us because they feel their community charge is too much. The talking is over and now it is time for action."

The pool is one of four at primary schools in County Durham approved for closure by the county Council's cabinet. The others are at Fishburn, Kelloe and Barnard Castle.

The county council has 17 pools in its area, and the closures have been proposed in order to save £3.5m in maintenance repairs.

A spokesman for the council said withholding business rates would not be an effective way of local protest because the money goes straight to the Government.

He also warned residents that they could face court action if they did not pay their council tax.

He said: "We would rather see the chamber of trade use its expertise and energies in coming up with a rescue package that might keep the pool open.