A MARKET town will have to become more tourist-friendly if it is to be one of the most successful in the country, councillors were told yesterday.

A survey carried out through the English Tourist Board found Barnard Castle, in County Durham, to have fared well in comparison to many other market towns in the country, but highlighted areas where the town could still be improved.

The report was discussed yesterday during a meeting of Teesdale District Council's development and leisure committee, and members have ordered a survey to be carried out to highlight the town's weaknesses.

Tony Seaman, director of development services at Teesdale council, told members that there was still some way to go before the town was among the best in the country.

He said: "In the report we've come out pretty good to average, which is good, but not good enough. We need to be better than average, and this survey has been a useful exercise and money well spent."

The council contributed almost half of the £3,000 cost of the report, which was also carried out at Alnwick, in Northumberland.

Areas of concern outlined during the meeting were lack of signposting for visitors of the Tourist Information Centre, in Barnard Castle, and the opening hours of shops in the town.