EXPANDING a music festival could help with the regeneration of a run-down town centre.

The Stanley Blues Festival, held in August, has become a major event in the North-East's musical calendar.

Since its humble beginnings almost ten years ago it has grown to attract crowds nearing 10,000 and has featured internationally-known performers, including former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor and The Blues Band.

The one-day event is funded by Durham County Council and Derwentside District Council, and organised by Consett studio Northern Recording.

Both councils are concerned about the slump in the former mining town's fortunes and are looking at ways of breathing new life into the area.

The county council's cabinet has welcomed proposals to forge a regeneration partnership with its district council colleagues.

The cabinet was told that a master plan for the town centre needed to be developed to look at things such as development in the King's Head Playing Fields and refurbishment or rebuilding of the bus station.

Corporate and legal services director Andrew North said in a report that physical regeneration alone was not enough and investment in events and activities was needed. He said the town's civic hall and Louisa Leisure Centre could play a key role.

"The Stanley Blues Festival is already a regional and, indeed, national draw and could be developed further over, say, three days with the use of these venues, pubs and clubs.