AN arts society is stepping up its campaign to save Darlington's art gallery.

The Darlington Society of Arts is concerned that the gallery, in Crown Street, next to the library, will be converted into a computer classroom.

Darlington Borough Council is looking at various sites in the town to turn into computer rooms for use by the public.

One option is the gallery, which has been used for more than 60 years for exhibitions of local art.

The search to find a home for a computer suite started after Government legislation was passed setting out new standards for libraries and museums, with a need for computer access for all.

The arts scoiety has expressed concern that if the gallery closes there will be no major exhibition site in the town.

A spokeswoman said: "We are concerned that the council has plans for the art gallery to undergo a change of use completely and be converted into a computer complex.

"This would be a grave loss to the cultural life of Darlington. There are many places where people can use computers such as local schools and colleges but no other venue for temporary local exhibitions of the kind held in Crown Street."

She said the art gallery at the Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace was not a suitable alternative.

She said: "The Miles Meehan Gallery in the Arts Centre was not donated to the town as an alternative gallery, but a supplementary one holding quite different kinds of exhibitions."

Members of the society will be in High Row, Darlington, on Saturday, February 23, to collect signatures for a petition against the proposed changes to the gallery.

A council spokesman said no decision had been made on where the computer suite would be situated.

He said: "Although a lot of people have access to computers at home, there are just as many who cannot afford their own PC. We have not made any decisions, but the gallery is one of the options because it is in the town centre and is accessible to everyone."

He said a large area of space would be needed.