A WEBSITE dedicated to Peterlee town centre is proving a roaring success.

Since the first pages of the site went on-line late last month, about 4,500 Internet surfers have visited it.

Freelance web designer Derick Scott designed the site as a hobby to tell more people about the town and its facilities.

It contains a guide to local businesses - including links to those offering on-line shopping - aerial photographs, pictures of the multi-million pound town centre revamp and a page on the town's history.

Mr Scott, of Welland Close, Peterlee, began designing the site in his spare time, after finding few mentions of Peterlee in cyberspace.

"The site is actually flying away,'' he said yesterday. "I had a look last night and, since July 23, when I first put the site on, it has had 4,500 people visit it.

"I didn't expect it to be so popular and I honestly have no idea why it has been so successful.

"There are a few shops where you can buy stuff over the Internet and have links with the site and they have sent us e-mails saying people are using the site to shop.

"I think a lot of it is to do with the factories in the town. I think a lot of them are using it to see what the town has to offer in terms of shops."

Mr Scott's business, Network North-East, has just sponsored local under-16s football club The Dream Team.

He is now looking to provide sites on other towns and is making preparations to produce one for Durham City.

The address of the Peterlee site is: www.peterleetowncentre.co.uk